The Berea Bodhrán : Introduction

Introduction and Artist Statement:

As part of the Berea College Department of Technology and Applied Design's Design and Production in Woods Course, I designed, and completed production of a traditional style Irish Frame Drum called a Bodhrán.

A traditional Bodhrán made in Ireland

A Bodhrán is like a Middle Eastern Tar except it is played with a small stick called a Beater. The body its self is closely related to a banjo body, although slightly larger (typically 11 to 28 inches) with a goatskin head. As a member of the Berea College Folk and Roots Ensemble I was asked to learn how to play a Bodhrán and was given lessons. As a lifetime member of The Electric Church of the Tambourine, I have always been fascinated by tambourines and hand percussion instruments, and during my instruction of the Bodhrán I learned that the Bodhrán originated in Ireland as a Tambourine eventually loosing its castanets and gaining a Beater. The Middle Eastern Tar is virtually the same instrument but played very differently, using the fingers instead of the beater. Evidence of this instrument dates back 30,000 years.

As part of this project I began designing my Bodhrán first in thumb nail sketches then moving to the computer using the program Inventor:

This Inventor Sketch shows the basic design of the top of a Bodhrán including the drum head and wood form frame.

This Inventor Sketch show the back of the Bodhrán including the dowel frame.

This is an Inventor render of the Beater.

After the research and design is completed it is time to begin Production.

To see a detailed tutorial of the construction of my Bodhrán please visit the CONSTRUCTION PAGE.

To see a detailed list of Materials and Tools used including information on the Wood Species selected for the project please visit the MATERIALS & TOOLS PAGE.

To see a Demonstration of the finished Bodhrán being played please visit the DEMONSTRATION PAGE.

To see other Projects the Design and Production in Woods class worked on, please visit the RELATED PROJECTS page.

Sources:

Making a Bodhran Beater video: http://youtu.be/PPLM1tPUKAI

Making a Bodhran: http://www.stephenhobley.com/blog/2013/03/04/a-goatskin-drum-bodhran/

Celtic Music Archive:

Making a Bodhran http://www.ceolas.org/instruments/bodhran/santin/Contents.htm

Making a Bodhran Beater http://www.ceolas.org/instruments/bodhran/santin/MakeBeat.htm

Ceolas.org ‘About the Author: Brent Santin’

http://www.ceolas.org/instruments/bodhran/santin/Contents.htm

Ceolas.org ‘Making a Bodhran’

http://www.ceolas.org/instruments/bodhran/santin/MakeRim1.htm