The Bodhran is a very old and rather simple instrument belonging to the family of frame drums. It is a percussion instrument which was developed and is widely used in Ireland. It is an 18" one sided drum made from Goatskin treated by a traditional process. The Irish word `Bodhar` means deaf or haunting. The Bodhran began as a skin tray used for drawing turf (peat) on the bogs. It is also believed that the Bodhran was initially used as a war drum for the Irish forces. Also, it was used to provide cadence for the pipers and warriors to keep to, as well as to announce the arrival of the army.
It consists of one or two membranes stretched over a frame. In the bodhran, the membrane is stretched over a thin, shallow, circular frame, which means that the sound has little resonance. The bodhran is struck with a small double-headed drumstick known as a mallet. The sides of the drum are 9 to 20 cm (31/2" to 8") deep. A goatskin head is tacked to one side (synthetic heads, or other animal skins are sometimes used). The other side is open ended for one hand to be placed against the inside of the drum head to control the pitch and timbre. One or two crossbars, sometimes removable, may be inside the frame, but this is increasingly rare on modern instruments. Some professional modern bodhrans integrate mechanical systems similar to those used on drums found in drum kits. It is usually with an Allen wrench that the bodhran skins are tightened or loosened depending on the atmospheric conditions.
In order to be played, the Bodhran has to be placed on the left knee, with the head of the instrument resting parallel to the player`s leg. The shell needs to be tucked under the arm so that the drum can be squeezed against the body. The left hand is placed against the back of the head just inside the shell to help steady the drum. The Bodhran can be struck on the head or on the rim, producing a variety of sounds. The bodhran gained popularity as a musical instrument in Irish Traditional Resurgence movement in the 1960`s. The bodhran is also used in modern Irish popular music. The Bodhran has also gained popularity in throughout the Celtic music world.
