Traditional Irish Drums

Irish culture celebrates its traditional music.

Music has always played a very prominent role in the culture of Ireland. Its traditional and folk roots are celebrated throughout the country, as the Irish are quite proud of their musical heritage. Examples are plentiful at pubs across the land. While a variety of drums are used in Irish music, there are two drums that are considered traditional Irish instruments: the popular bodhran, and the lesser-used lambeg drum.

The Bodhran Drum

The bodhran (pronounced "bow-rahn") is also known as the Irish drum or Celtic drum. Your World Instruments calls it "the traditional beat of Irish music." Due to the fact that it can be tuned and played in different styles, it contributes more flavor to the music than a simple beat. It has a deep tone, created by goatskin (modern versions sometimes use a man-made material) stretched over a round wooden rim. It is supported by one hand which also manipulates the sound, while the other hand plays it--either with the bare hand or with a double-headed drumstick called a "tipper" or "cipin."

The Lambeg Drum

Also traditional, yet less popular, is the lambeg drum. It is a very large drum beaten with canes, and is normally paired with a fife or flute. It is usually played by a marcher wearing a neck harness to help carry it, but smaller versions are often used in modern parades for exactly that reason. Due to its size (approximately three feet in diameter and two feet deep); its thundering sound (according to expert Diana Atkinson, it is "together with the bagpipe, one of the loudest acoustic instruments in the world, frequently reaching over 120 db."); and--this being Ireland--politics, the lambeg has not reached the level of popularity that the Bodhran has.

History

The first known use of the bodhran was in the Irish rebellion of 1603, when it was used as a battle or marching drum. But many believe that this was merely the first recorded use, and that it was a Celtic war drum that actually pre-dates Christianity. Its similarity to drums from North Africa and the Middle East has been noted, but its closest relative seems to be Spanish military drums--although many think that the Irish drum spread to Spain due to the number of Irish who served in the Spanish military. The etymology of its name is also in question, with potential links to the ancient Irish words "bodhor" (dull or soft), and "bodhran" ("skin tray").

The lambeg drum is a more "recent" addition to Irish music. Most experts think that it arrived in Ireland sometime in the 1600s with settlers from England. The English version was smaller, so the Irish enlarged and named it after a village in County Antrim. Although it was originally played throughout Ireland, it faded in popularity, according to Atkinson, "primarily because it is classified by many as a Protestant custom." Therefore the bodhran became better known as the traditional Irish drum.

Physical Characteristics

The bodhran is different from many other drums in that it can have either a fixed or a tunable head, which gives it more variety when played. The tension of the goatskin can be manipulated to change the tone. The basic sizes are 14, 16, 18 (most common), or 26 inches. Because the hand that holds the drum is moved to create different sounds, the larger drums allow more room for this purpose and create a deeper sound. There is a brace at the back of the drum, which can be a crossbar, a t-bar, or a single bar (which again, allows for more hand manipulation). The player is seated, supporting the drum on his thigh, so that both hands can be used.

The lambeg drum is largely used for parades and processions, being played like a marching bass drum (struck on both sides). The shell is traditionally made of oak, and--like the bodhran--the drum surface is traditionally goat skin. It is stretched as tightly and evenly as possible, and therefore uses no pegs for attachment. It is held in place by a wooden rim and ropes.

Modern Popularity

Irish traditional music had a large resurgence in the 1960s and '70s due to local performers who gained global recognition, such as Sean O Riada and The Chieftains. In the 1990s and 2000s, the Irish stepdancing show "Riverdance" and the folk rock band The Corrs, among others, continued the popularity of the Irish sound. All of these acts used the bodhran extensively, and also helped familiarize the public with other traditional Irish instruments, such as uilleann pipes, the tin whistle, the Irish fiddle and the Celtic harp.

References

• Your World Instruments: Bodhran
• Your Irish Culture: The Bodhran Traditional Irish Drum
• Irish Celtic Jewels: Irish Bodhran Drums
• Fife and Drum: Lambeg Drum