Dia duit...
I've recently been web searching for a bodhran, but unfortunately, I don't know much about Bodhrans so I can't tell if the bodhran I'm looking at is good quality or not! So, could anyone suggest a site where I could purchase a quality bodhran or a good brand?
It all depends what you want. What have you tried and liked, or is your only experience from concerts and recordings ?
And where are you ? Your biog is not fully informative.
By the way, bodhrans are not traditional, anymore than, say, the bouzouki.
"By the way, bodhrans are not traditional, anymore than, say, the bouzouki."--could be considered to be true, although there are recordings of bodhran from the 20s.
sean o riada didn't invent the bodhran, he was the first to consider the drum as having musical properties and so he began playing it with ceoltoiri chulann, when it was only ever used as a ritualistic drum on st stephens day...fair play sean, you have a few of us hooked go with the o'kane, they're unbelievable and mature beautifully
Comhaltas Treoir Magazine (yes, I know everyone here has a great disdain for that organisation, but that's beside the point) did an article a few months ago showing quite a bit of evidence that Bodhrans were used along side harpers and fiddles as early as the 1600's for social gatherings.
Earliest illustrations I've seen show people playing tambourines - big 15 inch plus drums with jingles fitted in the sides. Anyone want to put jingles on their bodhrans to make them authentic and traditional
Go on, I dare you.
And, as far as I recall, I heard that O'Riada brought along a North African drum, and it all went from there. The earliest videos, whatever, I've seen, again, show a pretty primitive sort of thumping, not what we expect in these days, would be laughed off the stage or out of the session, looking much like a man who really hasen't been doing it very long, trying to make something up to please the boss.
But, please, correct me if I'm wrong, chapter and verse, and I'll accept it.
"Earliest illustrations I've seen show people playing tambourines - big 15 inch plus drums with jingles fitted in the sides. Anyone want to put jingles on their bodhrans to make them authentic and traditional
Go on, I dare you.
And, as far as I recall, I heard that O'Riada brought along a North African drum, and it all went from there. The earliest videos, whatever, I've seen, again, show a pretty primitive sort of thumping, not what we expect in these days, would be laughed off the stage or out of the session, looking much like a man who really hasen't been doing it very long, trying to make something up to please the boss.
But, please, correct me if I'm wrong, chapter and verse, and I'll accept it."
After talking to a couple of lecturers from Ireland this summer, I suspect the nomenclature of "bodhran" was added to the drum after it was being used in the music. One in particular mentioned relatives from Sligo who'd play what they called a tambourine, but used their hand as a substitute for a tipper.
There are a number of recordings of Irish tunes on 78s from 20s and 30s listing someone playing "tambourine," although the player is using a tipper or hand in much the same way you'd hear a bodhran player from the 50s through today's Kerry style of playing. In other words, not the arse slapping, jingle jangling, Kelly Clarkson tambourine playing we all love and admire today.
I can't for the life of me understand why no-one has made a joke out of the oxymoronic title of this thread. In the interests of good taste, I am not about to do so now.
Considering that the Irish "race", well the Celts anyway, originated in North Africa O'Riada had no need to travel that far. Someone got me an Egyptian bodhran a few months back, much the same instrument, no bell's or owt. The bells only arrived when someone invented bells and added them to the bodhran/drum.
Mr Llig, ssssshhhhh. In a whisper "I know it is the voice but considering people on this site hate singers more than bodhrans I did not want to cause trouble by pointing that out)
"Considering that the Irish "race", well the Celts anyway, originated in North Africa . . " - but (in current received wisdom) we ALL originated in east africa - just a question of how far back you go.
How did the find room in between all those photos of Irish politicians meeting comhaltas bigwigs?
I'm a member of a comhaltas branch, and long ago gave up even trying to look for anything of interest in Treoir. Quick flick to the middle to see what the tunes are then put it down again.
"Poppycock, it's the voice." llig.
Where are the Poppycock bodhrans made then?
McKnowall makes nice kangaroo skin drums and automatic tippers. No wimpy goatskin stuff. And he makes in a whole range of sizes up to about four feet wide I think!
He's got a website. He could be a bit addled with the heatwave at the moment, maybe a good time to hit him for a bargain.
"(in current received wisdom) we ALL originated in east africa - just a question of how far back you go."
Hey showaddydadito, wouldn't it have been really cool if all people had originated in Ireland and spread from here to Africa instead.
That would mean that today, all Africans would be playing 'IRISH' rhythms to their music!
Hmmmmmm A COOL DIDDLY BACK BEAT!
Of course, don't you know, we can only go back about 6,000 years, anyway!
Whoo-hooo...that's a great set on the sixth you tube down the page at the tradcentre. (The one with the pipes and flute). Anyone know what the names of the tunes are?
Brilliant.
Ptarmigan - At first I misread "a cool diddly back beat" as "a cool diddly black beat", and I wondered if you'd be sacked from the BBC, or get all your threads deleted.
I like the use of multi smileys - it cheers the day up a bit.
Like all instruments bodhrans were influenced by what came in from abroad. certainly north Africa would have had its shipping routs, and Asia had its routs too, the most popular frame drum in the world is the tambourine so my guess is that it was developed from that.
Some people think the kerry farmers invented bodhrans to push up the price of goat skin...wouldn't put it past them!
you are fortunate this crowd is in a good mood this week. With a posting title like this, I would have expected a parade of bodrhan jokes (ref earlier post this week that solicted some very creative 'parrot' jokes)
"considering people on this site hate singers more than bodhrans"
"Comhaltas Treoir Magazine (yes, I know everyone here has a great disdain for that organisation, but that's beside the point)"
Careful no, you don't want to cause offence. I know many site users who are in Comhaltas, including my self and have often recommended the site as well. As for singers I am also one and use this site to find new tunes to lilt.
And back to the point: A Good Bodhran (I also play bodhran) can be found in Waltons, Dublin or the Sound Shop in Co. Louth. Both should have web address
'traditional' kerry style playing with a dumbell tipper - go for something with a thick skin. Belgarth, O'kane, White.
Top-end thin stick - only works for me with a lambeg skin - sounds a bit thin and empty on a thicker skin - so go with a lambeg - perhaps a Hedweitshak.
My personal recommendation comes in the contemporary category because thats what I play - Brendan White. My drum is fantastic (I also have a lambeg RWE and a dragonskin drum both from christian hedwitschak but I prefer the Brendan white).
Brendan is from Youghal in Co Cork originally but now resides in Holland.
When Brendan made my drum he also had just made one for Kevin Conneff (Chieftans). Cormac Byrne (Uiscedwr/Seth Lakeman) also plays these drums and I owe my ownership of a Brendan White to Cormac letting me try his out.
A Good Bodhran....
A Good Bodhran....
Dia duit...
I've recently been web searching for a bodhran, but unfortunately, I don't know much about Bodhrans so I can't tell if the bodhran I'm looking at is good quality or not! So, could anyone suggest a site where I could purchase a quality bodhran or a good brand?
# Posted on February 5th 2009 by ScotiaBalach
Re: A Good Bodhran....
Metloef.com
The best.
# Posted on February 5th 2009 by seaniemcg
Re: A Good Bodhran....
http://www.acebodhrans.com/
# Posted on February 5th 2009 by pipewatcher
Re: A Good Bodhran....
Take a look here;
http://launch.groups.yahoo.com/group/bodhran/
or here for a buying guide;
http://www.bodhran-info.de/index.php?option=com_content&task=view&id=16&Itemid=50
# Posted on February 5th 2009 by Gran Cassa
Re: A Good Bodhran....
Try a Quinlan in Chicago. Outstanding drum for the price.
# Posted on February 5th 2009 by reenactor
Re: A Good Bodhran....
It all depends what you want. What have you tried and liked, or is your only experience from concerts and recordings ?
And where are you ? Your biog is not fully informative.
By the way, bodhrans are not traditional, anymore than, say, the bouzouki.
# Posted on February 5th 2009 by Guernsey Pete
Re: A Good Bodhran....
Good information here:
http://www.bodojo.com/
"By the way, bodhrans are not traditional, anymore than, say, the bouzouki."--could be considered to be true, although there are recordings of bodhran from the 20s.
# Posted on February 5th 2009 by dr_funkenstein
Re: A Good Bodhran....
Seamus O'Kane makes a wonderful drum.
# Posted on February 5th 2009 by Sutor
Re: A Good Bodhran....
my dad would be able to make you a wonderful bodhrán.just give me an email and i will see what i can do.
# Posted on February 5th 2009 by trad man
Re: A Good Bodhran....
Bodhrans are the oldest Irish instrument, just as percussion instruments are the oldest in any form of music.
Any one tells that Sean O'Riada invented a new instrument in the 1950s obviously didn't know O'Riada.
£140 Eamon Maguire Belfast. Google his name and the word bodhran.
# Posted on February 5th 2009 by bodhran bliss
Re: A Good Bodhran....
www.bodhranmaker.de
# Posted on February 6th 2009 by Walnut Box
Re: A Good Bodhran....
sean o riada didn't invent the bodhran, he was the first to consider the drum as having musical properties and so he began playing it with ceoltoiri chulann, when it was only ever used as a ritualistic drum on st stephens day...fair play sean, you have a few of us hooked
go with the o'kane, they're unbelievable and mature beautifully
# Posted on February 6th 2009 by podge
Re: A Good Bodhran....
Comhaltas Treoir Magazine (yes, I know everyone here has a great disdain for that organisation, but that's beside the point) did an article a few months ago showing quite a bit of evidence that Bodhrans were used along side harpers and fiddles as early as the 1600's for social gatherings.
# Posted on February 6th 2009 by Jusa Nutter Eejit
Re: A Good Bodhran....
Earliest illustrations I've seen show people playing tambourines - big 15 inch plus drums with jingles fitted in the sides. Anyone want to put jingles on their bodhrans to make them authentic and traditional
Go on, I dare you.
And, as far as I recall, I heard that O'Riada brought along a North African drum, and it all went from there. The earliest videos, whatever, I've seen, again, show a pretty primitive sort of thumping, not what we expect in these days, would be laughed off the stage or out of the session, looking much like a man who really hasen't been doing it very long, trying to make something up to please the boss.
But, please, correct me if I'm wrong, chapter and verse, and I'll accept it.
# Posted on February 6th 2009 by Guernsey Pete
Re: A Good Bodhran....
"Percussion instruments are the oldest in any form of music".
Poppycock, it's the voice. Not that it matters of course
"a pretty primitive sort of thumping, not what we expect in these days." Ha ha ha ha ha ha bloody ha ha ha ha
# Posted on February 6th 2009 by ...
Re: A Good Bodhran....
"Earliest illustrations I've seen show people playing tambourines - big 15 inch plus drums with jingles fitted in the sides. Anyone want to put jingles on their bodhrans to make them authentic and traditional
Go on, I dare you.
And, as far as I recall, I heard that O'Riada brought along a North African drum, and it all went from there. The earliest videos, whatever, I've seen, again, show a pretty primitive sort of thumping, not what we expect in these days, would be laughed off the stage or out of the session, looking much like a man who really hasen't been doing it very long, trying to make something up to please the boss.
But, please, correct me if I'm wrong, chapter and verse, and I'll accept it."
Here's a track from 1928: Tom Morrison, flute; John Reynolds, tambourine; Ed Geoghegan, piano
http://www.archive.org/details/TomMorrisonIndianontheRockTheJollyPlowboyTheFoxChase
After talking to a couple of lecturers from Ireland this summer, I suspect the nomenclature of "bodhran" was added to the drum after it was being used in the music. One in particular mentioned relatives from Sligo who'd play what they called a tambourine, but used their hand as a substitute for a tipper.
There are a number of recordings of Irish tunes on 78s from 20s and 30s listing someone playing "tambourine," although the player is using a tipper or hand in much the same way you'd hear a bodhran player from the 50s through today's Kerry style of playing. In other words, not the arse slapping, jingle jangling, Kelly Clarkson tambourine playing we all love and admire today.
# Posted on February 6th 2009 by dr_funkenstein
Re: A Good Bodhran....
I can't for the life of me understand why no-one has made a joke out of the oxymoronic title of this thread. In the interests of good taste, I am not about to do so now.
# Posted on February 6th 2009 by Steve Shaw
Re: A Good Bodhran....
Considering that the Irish "race", well the Celts anyway, originated in North Africa O'Riada had no need to travel that far. Someone got me an Egyptian bodhran a few months back, much the same instrument, no bell's or owt. The bells only arrived when someone invented bells and added them to the bodhran/drum.
Mr Llig, ssssshhhhh. In a whisper "I know it is the voice but considering people on this site hate singers more than bodhrans I did not want to cause trouble by pointing that out)
# Posted on February 6th 2009 by bodhran bliss
Re: A Good Bodhran....
"Considering that the Irish "race", well the Celts anyway, originated in North Africa . . " - but (in current received wisdom) we ALL originated in east africa - just a question of how far back you go.
# Posted on February 6th 2009 by showaddydadito
Re: A Good Bodhran....
Hey Jusa,
There was an article in Treoir? On anything?
How did the find room in between all those photos of Irish politicians meeting comhaltas bigwigs?
I'm a member of a comhaltas branch, and long ago gave up even trying to look for anything of interest in Treoir. Quick flick to the middle to see what the tunes are then put it down again.
Maybe i've been overly cynical.
- Chris
# Posted on February 6th 2009 by ramblingpitchfork
Re: A Good Bodhran....
Davy Stuart New Zealand
# Posted on February 6th 2009 by zepherin
Re: A Good Bodhran....
"Poppycock, it's the voice." llig.
Where are the Poppycock bodhrans made then?
McKnowall makes nice kangaroo skin drums and automatic tippers. No wimpy goatskin stuff. And he makes in a whole range of sizes up to about four feet wide I think!
He's got a website. He could be a bit addled with the heatwave at the moment, maybe a good time to hit him for a bargain.
# Posted on February 6th 2009 by Skull Duggeraigh Dubh
Re: A Good Bodhran....
"(in current received wisdom) we ALL originated in east africa - just a question of how far back you go."
Hey showaddydadito, wouldn't it have been really cool if all people had originated in Ireland and spread from here to Africa instead.
That would mean that today, all Africans would be playing 'IRISH' rhythms to their music!
Hmmmmmm A COOL DIDDLY BACK BEAT!
Of course, don't you know, we can only go back about 6,000 years, anyway!
http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Young_Earth_creationism
# Posted on February 6th 2009 by Ptarmigan
Re: A Good Bodhran....
Sorry Scotia,
back on topic ...... this is yer only way to go:
http://www.tradcentre.com/seamus/
I've never heard better.
# Posted on February 6th 2009 by Ptarmigan
Re: A Good Bodhran....
Whoo-hooo...that's a great set on the sixth you tube down the page at the tradcentre. (The one with the pipes and flute). Anyone know what the names of the tunes are?
Brilliant.
# Posted on February 6th 2009 by Skull Duggeraigh Dubh
Re: A Good Bodhran....
Ptarmigan - At first I misread "a cool diddly back beat" as "a cool diddly black beat", and I wondered if you'd be sacked from the BBC, or get all your threads deleted.
I like the use of multi smileys - it cheers the day up a bit.
# Posted on February 6th 2009 by showaddydadito
Re: A Good Bodhran....
Get an O'Kane go on, go on, go on.
http://www.nscottrobinson.com/framedrums.php
Like all instruments bodhrans were influenced by what came in from abroad. certainly north Africa would have had its shipping routs, and Asia had its routs too, the most popular frame drum in the world is the tambourine so my guess is that it was developed from that.
Some people think the kerry farmers invented bodhrans to push up the price of goat skin...wouldn't put it past them!
Anywho its interesting, and debatable, and heres a link to a great website...all about frame drums
# Posted on February 6th 2009 by podge
Re: A Good Bodhran....
Hey Podge, it's my guess the Kerry Farmers are completely innocent.
I reckon they've just been FRAMED!
# Posted on February 6th 2009 by Ptarmigan
Re: A Good Bodhran....
you are fortunate this crowd is in a good mood this week. With a posting title like this, I would have expected a parade of bodrhan jokes (ref earlier post this week that solicted some very creative 'parrot' jokes)
# Posted on February 6th 2009 by zippydw
Re: A Good Bodhran....
bodhran jokes? never heard the likes
# Posted on February 6th 2009 by podge
Re: A Good Bodhran....
bordhans, bohrdans,bodrhans,bhodrans, bdhorans, bohdnars, bodhnras....that's all we ever hear about.
Bad bodhran players really get on my goat...that's why I take my goat to the session. I'm a diplomat.
# Posted on February 7th 2009 by Skull Duggeraigh Dubh
Re: A Good Bodhran....
- "Hey Podge, it's my guess the Kerry Farmers are completely innocent.
I reckon they've just been FRAMED!"
NOW THAT'S FUNNY!
# Posted on February 7th 2009 by Fishmonger
Re: A Good Bodhran....
"considering people on this site hate singers more than bodhrans"
"Comhaltas Treoir Magazine (yes, I know everyone here has a great disdain for that organisation, but that's beside the point)"
Careful no, you don't want to cause offence. I know many site users who are in Comhaltas, including my self and have often recommended the site as well. As for singers I am also one and use this site to find new tunes to lilt.
And back to the point: A Good Bodhran (I also play bodhran) can be found in Waltons, Dublin or the Sound Shop in Co. Louth. Both should have web address
Good luck
# Posted on February 25th 2009 by Fiddler101
Re: A Good Bodhran....
Hey fiddler101 that is just about a clean sweep.
You don't kidnap children, mug grannies, or drown puppies in sacks too by any chance?
- chris
# Posted on February 25th 2009 by ramblingpitchfork
Re: A Good Bodhran....
Which bodhran is a difficult question.
Depends on your style, so Ill break it down....
'traditional' kerry style playing with a dumbell tipper - go for something with a thick skin. Belgarth, O'kane, White.
Top-end thin stick - only works for me with a lambeg skin - sounds a bit thin and empty on a thicker skin - so go with a lambeg - perhaps a Hedweitshak.
Contemporary hot-rod - thick skin again - White, Belgarth, O'Kane, Metleof
My personal recommendation comes in the contemporary category because thats what I play - Brendan White. My drum is fantastic (I also have a lambeg RWE and a dragonskin drum both from christian hedwitschak but I prefer the Brendan white).
Brendan is from Youghal in Co Cork originally but now resides in Holland.
http://www.bodhran.nl/
When Brendan made my drum he also had just made one for Kevin Conneff (Chieftans). Cormac Byrne (Uiscedwr/Seth Lakeman) also plays these drums and I owe my ownership of a Brendan White to Cormac letting me try his out.
# Posted on February 26th 2009 by Barry Pearce