The Mudcat Café TM
Thread #56320 Message #3485235
Posted By: GUEST,JTT
01-Mar-13 - 07:23 PM
Thread Name: Bodhran
Subject: RE: Bodhran
In Ireland 'bodhrán' is taken to come from 'bodhar' (pronounced bower, rhymes with flower), meaning deaf; the Irish term "he has me bothered" comes from the same word, "bothered" reflecting the old/middle Irish pronunciation.
Bodhrán translates to 'dildurn', a farming implement used for winnowing grain - you poured in a layer of grain and bounced it, allowing the covers of the ears to fly away in the wind. This was turned to musical use for dances, in much the same way that a pair of spoons was used as percussion.