BS: Correct usage of a bodhran

Subject: BS: Correct usage of a bodhran
From: John MacKenzie
Date: 30 Jan 08 - 05:39 PM

That is music to my ears.
G

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Subject: RE: BS: Correct usage of a bodhran
From: Barry Finn
Date: 30 Jan 08 - 06:28 PM

6 players & their timing sucks, not a triplet among them. They aughter try using sticks.
Barry

Subject: RE: BS: Correct usage of a bodhran
From: Rapparee
Date: 30 Jan 08 - 06:28 PM

Looks more like tambourines.

Subject: RE: BS: Correct usage of a bodhran
From: Slag
Date: 30 Jan 08 - 09:07 PM

First paint a red dot in the very center then encircle the same at one diameter the dot with a red ring the width the same as the center dot's diameter. Then at at progressive distances continue ringing the rings to make concentric circles. Place on a fence post or some such stand and make sure there are no people or damageable property behind same. Take favorite ranged weapon of choice and back off about 30 feet for a pistol, twenty yards for a bow or about one hundred yards for a rifle and shoot out the center dot, if you can.

Subject: RE: BS: Correct usage of a bodhran
From: Rapparee
Date: 30 Jan 08 - 10:28 PM

I can do that. Could I hang it from a cord and stick it with a sword, too?

Subject: RE: BS: Correct usage of a bodhran
From: Slag
Date: 31 Jan 08 - 02:02 AM

Check the manual first but I'm pretty sure that that would be acceptable and probably a whole lot less dangerous, not to mention illegal in certain parts of the world.

Subject: RE: BS: Correct usage of a bodhran
From: skarpi
Date: 31 Jan 08 - 02:25 AM

no wonder , I think they should us a banjo at least they have a handle .

Subject: RE: BS: Correct usage of a bodhran
From: Backwoodsman
Date: 31 Jan 08 - 03:53 AM

I went to a certain folk club last week - folk club, mind you, with featured performers, not a session - and a young lady with a bodhran and absolutely no sense of rhythm proceeded to bang it, uninvited, through every song.

And they wonder why people hate 'em! :-) :-)

Subject: RE: BS: Correct usage of a bodhran
From: Bryn Pugh
Date: 31 Jan 08 - 04:04 AM

Yerse, I know the feeling.

I was once invited to sing at an Irish sesiun - a rare privilege and compliment for an instrumental sesiun.

Didn't some eejit, with a square bodhran - it's true, honestly ! - bang his way through my rendering of 'The Rambling Ulsterman' - until he was informed, not by me, that should he not give over, the square bodhran would be taken and shoved up his arse.

There isn't one bodhran player in fifty who understands that the bodhran plays to the music - it does not set rhythm.

I agree with BWM - And they wonder, etc.

Subject: RE: BS: Correct usage of a bodhran
From: Megan L
Date: 31 Jan 08 - 04:36 AM

I think this thread is bodhranist and therefore politically inncorect. the sport looks like Tambourello :p

Subject: RE: BS: Correct usage of a bodhran
From: MARINER
Date: 31 Jan 08 - 04:39 AM

I think it was Seamus Ennis who suggested one time that they are best played with a pen knife!!!

Subject: RE: BS: Correct usage of a bodhran
From: Mr Red
Date: 31 Jan 08 - 05:44 PM

Slag

Beware - both my Bodhrans are stained with the blood of those that tell bodhran jokes. And the penknife they recommend for playing with - I play it on the providers of the dye........

Subject: RE: BS: Correct usage of a bodhran
From: Rapparee
Date: 31 Jan 08 - 06:40 PM

1. You can pass it around the audience to collect spare change.
2. Add clamp-on frets, head, and strings for an instant banjo.
3. And, ah....

Subject: RE: BS: Correct usage of a bodhran
From: Bryn Pugh
Date: 01 Feb 08 - 04:09 AM

Yeah, they do come in handy when it's Judas time.

(Judas - Judas's carry out.)

Subject: RE: BS: Correct usage of a bodhran
From: John MacKenzie
Date: 01 Feb 08 - 05:52 AM

No no no, throw the bodhran AND the grain up into the air, go back to the bodhran store and repeat, until you run out of bodhrans. [Could take a long time]

G.

Subject: RE: BS: Correct usage of a bodhran
From: goatfell
Date: 01 Feb 08 - 07:20 AM

I play the Bordhran and I like the way is sounds when played correctly and if the tune/song needs it, the same goes for the banjo, as Willie Nelson says, you can't play a slow song on the banjo or the bordhran

Subject: RE: BS: Correct usage of a bodhran
From: Jon Nix
Date: 01 Feb 08 - 08:30 AM

The vehemence against bodhran and banjo players is mostly expressed by those who cannot play themselves.
Both instruments require a lot of skill to play well.
Certainly a poorly played bodhran or banjo is painful to hear, but no more so than any other instrument played badly.
A well played bodhran is a delightful accompaniment to some (but not all) tunes. Personally, I love Christy Moore's use of the instrument.
But then it is always a matter of taste.

By the way, we use one to collect the whip-round money each night!
Is this a correct usage?

Subject: RE: BS: Correct usage of a bodhran
From: redsnapper
Date: 01 Feb 08 - 08:55 AM

Yes indeed Jon! I also agree with the rest of your post.

And for this purpose an 18" is preferable to a 14" or 16"!

RS

Subject: RE: BS: Correct usage of a bodhran
From: Mr Happy
Date: 01 Feb 08 - 09:46 AM

Dan Bohr plays his Bran Hod with a Hard Nob, using the Hand Orb technique!

Subject: RE: BS: Correct usage of a bodhran
From: Bryn Pugh
Date: 01 Feb 08 - 10:08 AM

Carry-out = whip-round for ale in the days when the towels went up at 10 - 30pm - hence, Judas.

- unless you got a stay-back, or took part in a lock-in.

I play the bodhran using my index finger rather than the bat a fodhran.

I agree with Jon Nix - it is a very difficult instrument to play well, and a very easy instrument to play badly.

Subject: RE: BS: Correct usage of a bodhran
From: GUEST
Date: 01 Feb 08 - 10:25 AM

Willie Nelson says, you can't play a slow song on the banjo or the bordhran

Well if Willie Nelson can't play a Bodhran it doesn't diminish his skill in my eyes - but you can play a bodhran on a slow song but you better be skillful because singers use rubato for effect and not necessarilly consistently. Personally I would probably go for a pint of cider at that juncture.

Subject: RE: BS: Correct usage of a bodhran
From: Trevor Thomas
Date: 01 Feb 08 - 11:08 AM

There are some excellent bodhran players - Ciaran Boyle springs immediately to mind, as does Will Lang.

If someone's good at it, it adds a great deal to the music, like any other instrument.

But I was at a session a while back where people got a bit excitable, and there was a djembe, a sort of drum you play with sticks, someone playing the spoons, and the bodhran player decided his drum wasn't loud enough, so turned it on it's side and started battering on the rim. I couldn't hear whatever tune it was me and the fiddler were trying to play - it just sounded to me like I was in a wheelie bin that six big lads were hitting with cricket bats.

This made it a bit difficult to play, but I didn't really mind. Everyone was having a good time, and that's the whole point of the session, I think.

Subject: RE: BS: Correct usage of a bodhran
From: Slag
Date: 01 Feb 08 - 09:00 PM

At this juncture I feel compelled to mention the playing of finger Zills. They, too, are easily played badly, wrongly and quite difficult to get correct and with full ringing tone and to mute without making a clicking, clanging mess of it. Joking aside, a well played bodhran does add much to certain works.

Subject: RE: BS: Correct usage of a bodhran
From: Mr Red
Date: 02 Feb 08 - 05:34 AM

Slag - come out of the closet, with yer Bodhran - the folkies are friendly ......... mostly.

Subject: RE: BS: Correct usage of a bodhran
From: MARINER
Date: 02 Feb 08 - 12:10 PM

Pepper's Pub in Feackle Co.Clare has a very sensible policy where bodhráns are concerned. A prominently displayed sign reads "Only one Bodhrán at a time !"

Subject: RE: BS: Correct usage of a bodhran
From: gnu
Date: 02 Feb 08 - 12:22 PM

That's only sensible. I find it somewhat difficult playing more than one at a time myself.

But seriously, folks, one Hran at a time is just common sense. We used to "dual" at times, but simultaneous Hrans? No.

Subject: RE: BS: Correct usage of a bodhran
From: Megan L
Date: 02 Feb 08 - 12:28 PM

same should go for folk wie guitars

Subject: RE: BS: Correct usage of a bodhran
From: Mrs.Duck
Date: 02 Feb 08 - 12:30 PM

I can't play a banjo or a bodhran so I don't. I know some who play either or both very well and add something to a tune or song rather than detract from it. As for playing slow songs on a banjo, Geoff certainly can and does. One of my favourite songs he does is 'July Wakes' and the banjo accompaniment he does for it is beautifully haunting.

Subject: RE: BS: Correct usage of a bodhran
From: Barry Finn
Date: 02 Feb 08 - 01:39 PM

A banjo or bodhran are certainly both capuable of lending themselvess beautifully to some slow airs or songs in the hands of a good musician, depending on the air or song & the delicate tastes of the musician. A good musician with a shitty taste does no one or no tune or song any favors, & there are enough of both to go around just as there are on any other instrument. Technical ability is as much disired of & from a musician as is tase, discretion, style, phrasing, grace & timing, those that have it all will be a greatful addition to anything they choose to be a part of after that it becomes a sliding scale (Cute pun, no?)]
Not that I have all of these, I'm sure I don't but I haven't heard any complaints in the past 25 yrs or so, at least not to my face.

Barry