Annoying Bodhran, what to do?

Subject: RE: Annoying Bodhran, what to do?
From: pavane
Date: 27 Jun 01 - 08:36 AM

I found these as well
What do you call a groupie who hangs around and annoys musicians? A bodhran player.
What is the difference between a bodhran player and a terrorist? Terrorists have sympathisers.
What do bodhran players use for birth control? Their personalities.
What's the best thing to play a bodhran with? A razor blade.
but not as good as some of the others

Subject: RE: Annoying Bodhran, what to do?
From: Bernard
Date: 27 Jun 01 - 03:32 PM

Difference between a bodhran player and an onion?

You cry when you slice up an onion...

Subject: RE: Annoying Bodhran, what to do?
From: gnu
Date: 27 Jun 01 - 04:29 PM

Don't know if anyone posted this Hran link... The Bodhran Page is at, I hope this works....

Click here

Subject: RE: Annoying Bodhran, what to do?
From: gnu
Date: 27 Jun 01 - 04:30 PM

OOOOPS... I meant to say that there is a list of jokes there.

Subject: RE: Annoying Bodhran, what to do?
From: rock chick
Date: 28 Jun 01 - 09:59 AM

I play the Bodhran, and I am good at playing, but I only play when invited too, which is quite often, However I do object to people playing(thinking they are playing) when in fact all they are doing is banging, also when more than one person plays, all using different beats, if a mess, an embrassemment for those who CAN play. It gives us good Bodhran players a bad name also more important it gives the instrument a bad name, when in fact if played correctly it like any other instrument can be beautiful to lisen to. If I was you just tell him outright, if it offends him, so what, he is offending others.

Subject: RE: Annoying Bodhran, what to do?
From: John J
Date: 28 Jun 01 - 11:34 AM

Well put Rock Chick; I agree with your sentiments, as I'm sure a majority of singers and musicians. By the way, what do you call a person who plays the bodhran? A bodhranist perhaps? Time for another thread perhaps.

John

Subject: RE: Annoying Bodhran, what to do?
From: PeteBoom
Date: 28 Jun 01 - 12:06 PM

I don't know - as one who plays bodhran and plays at whistle and a few other instrument, I think it is safe to say that most people I've met who have recently taken up the drum (thanks Riverdance... thanks a LOT...) would be best off by playing it with a pen knife.

The general gist is, if you've got a clue, you'll be welcomed into a session - sometimes invited to join in with a band that is actually performing. Be patient and practice - don't try and sound like Mr. Whatzit in whatever band's CD you just picked up - odds are he's been playing a LOT longer than you. Find a teacher who will be willing to work with beginners, then go for more than a couple of lessons and be willing to pay richly for the shared knowledge. Odds are your teacher paid dearly to get it, show enough respect for your teacher and their skill to reciprocate.

That is the polite version of what I tell people at festivals who ask "Gee - I want to learn to play that thing. How do I go about it?"

OK - I'll get off the soap box -

Regards -

Pete

Subject: RE: Annoying Bodhran, what to do?
From: Hawker
Date: 28 Jun 01 - 05:37 PM

Bodhran Jokes:
What do you call a bodhran player who doesn't play in a session?
A gentleman

There was this chap walked into a session in a bar in Northern Ireland with a package under his arm, which he carefully placed under his chair, he then sat in the session and listened. After a time, the curious person next to him asked...."Whats in the package?" to which the whispered answer was cagily given: "2 pounds of semtex" The questioner, looking much relieved said:"Thank Christ for that, I thought it was another bodhran!"

What is the difference between a bodhran payer and a foot bath?
One bucks up the feet.....

What is a definfition of perfect pitch?
Throwing a bodhran down a well without touching the sides

Or even, throwing a bodhran down a well and not hitting the sides or the banjo already at the bottom!

I am tempted to say that the best bodhran joke is on those people who really believe that they can play in time!

Lucy

Subject: RE: Annoying Bodhran, what to do?
From: Midchuck
Date: 29 Jun 01 - 11:59 AM

Cheer up, it could be worse. Some people have trouble playing the things, so they put a neck and strings on them and think they're improving them, while they actually make them furr, furr, wuss!

Neither shall ye slaughter the goat and stretch its hide across wooden barrels, then beat upon it with wooden timbers on the two and the four. This is the task of the mandolin, and to usurp it is unclean, and damnable unto the seventh generation.

- from the Ten Commandments of Bluegrass

Peter

Subject: RE: Annoying Bodhran, what to do?
From: gnu
Date: 29 Jun 01 - 01:04 PM

boughRAWN >>> RAWN. Bough varies. Some say Bo-rawn or something midway between the two. Accent usually on first.... depends on time of night = number of drinks. See post from Rich 23 june 3:02PM to see "Bodhranist" properly (it's his Mudcat handle). I prefer Hranner. I realize this is an Anglisization, or bastardization, but I'm not much for being too strict, about anything.

Subject: RE: Annoying Bodhran, what to do?
From: Ditchdweller
Date: 02 Jul 01 - 01:01 PM

Is the Bodhran also known in Dorset as the Riddle Drum? I seem to recall somone telling me it is mentioned in one of Thomas Hardy's books.

Subject: RE: Annoying Bodhran, what to do?
From: English Jon
Date: 02 Jul 01 - 01:07 PM

Anyone know anything about Duffs?

not as in plum, or up the:

A duff being a square frame drum, precussor to the Bodgrhdgrandghrn, prevalent in England in the 1200/1300s.

All I know is that it was played with a single stick, and from the shape of the stick we can presume only one end of it was used.

EJ

Subject: RE: Annoying Bodhran, what to do?
From: MMario
Date: 02 Jul 01 - 01:19 PM

most of the references I can find to "duff" are for an islamic single sided wooden framed drum played with the hand.

Subject: RE: Annoying Bodhran, what to do?
From: Mr Happy
Date: 28 Jun 02 - 05:29 AM

clearly, there's a gap in the market here.

any makers of borin beaters thought of making them from polystyrene?

Subject: RE: Annoying Bodhran, what to do?
From: fogie
Date: 28 Jun 02 - 06:07 AM

So you lot think youve got problems- weve got the world's authority on quadruple bones playing in some of our sessions, and the worst thing is that shes reasonably good , but only plays at one volume, and always flat out. Whats more shes completely impervious to all of our gentle suggestions, and any criticism is water off a ducks back. Were all clubbing together to throw the poor thins out of the window and substitute rubber ones!

Subject: RE: Annoying Bodhran, what to do?
From: John J
Date: 28 Jun 02 - 08:55 AM

Just as a point of interest, the guy who made me start this thread last year STILL goes to the same folk club and STILL hits his bodhran in attemted accompaniment of anything remotely musical.

Consequently I don't go to the club half as often these days.

John

Subject: RE: Annoying Bodhran, what to do?
From: PeteBoom
Date: 28 Jun 02 - 11:26 AM

I'll trade you an annoying banjo player (who can't keep time) for your bodhran thumper and bone whacker... It would make a nice change - ;-)

P

Subject: RE: Annoying Bodhran, what to do?
From: Declan
Date: 28 Jun 02 - 11:32 AM

I wasn't going to bother responding to this thread, because it looked like the situation had resolved itself, but if the guy is still making a nuisance of himself he needs to be told.

People like this man (and there are many of them, who play many types of instruments, but the bodhran seems to attract more than its fair share) tend to ruin any session they sit into. If he won't/can't stop doing this, it is him rather than you who should move away from the session. I don't generally enjoy conflict of this type myself, but there often comes a time when it just has to be done.

The etiquette in English folk sessions tends to differ from sessions here in Ireland. If someone is playing a bodhran (or any other instrument) offensively in a session they will tend to be told fairly quickly. Its obviously nicer to have a quiet word in someones ear rather than to tell him off in front of others, but sometimes the point is best made in the heat of the moment. I suspect that if someone is this insensitive in the first place, if you tried to have a quiet word at a different time they would claim to not understand what you are talking about.

As to not singing in time, in general the correct tempo for a tune or song is the one that the singer or player who is leading the tune starts off in. Its the job of any backer (I'm a guitar backer myself) is to accompany the tune or song in the key and rhythm that the lead player/singer chooses. If the bodhranai is asked to lead off a song or set of tunes then they can set the tempo, I somehow doubt if anyone is going to ask this particular person to do this, on that instrument at least.

As has been said before, if you don't want accompaniment say so. In those circumstances if someone insists on playing against your wishes, and this annoys you, I'd have no hestiation in stopping singing until they stop, and if they don't get the hint, in making it clear that that is what you are doing.

I've been asked to stop backing singers myself occasionally (thankfully not too often) and while I don't always take this with good grace when it happens, on reflection, in the sober light of the next day at least I realise the person was probably right.

Have the courage to confront the person if it bothers you, rather than running away from the situation. I bet most of the other people who attend the club will thank you for it.

Subject: RE: Annoying Bodhran, what to do?
From: Mr Happy
Date: 28 Jun 02 - 12:25 PM

i was at a ff in wakefield [uk]some time ago.

i went to a vg irish session in the pub & there was a young irish button acc player.

as usual, i joined in with the tunes on guitar.

when the b/c player started a new tune, i joined in with that one too. he stopped playing, turned to me & asked if i could stop playing as he couldn't hear his own instrument.

i must say at the time i felt hurt & very disgruntled- but i did stop playing.

not so long afterwards, maybe a couple of weeks later, at another session back home, another incident occured where someone was drowning out a tune/song leader by playing too loud [& badly]

nobody said anything to the 'offender' but it could be seen by people's expressions how they felt.

this caused me to reflect on my own experience with the young accordian player & felt instead of resentment, actual gratitude to him that i'd been told [very politely & reason why given] to shut the f*** up!

the moral of this drawn out tale is, i learnt a lesson & subsequently realised more consideration for others in sessions & possibly if we tell our own 'offenders' in a direct, practical & polite way to stop/ tone down their behaviour, we may in fact be doing them a favour as well as ourselves- ie they may pause to THINK more what they're doing/ HOW they're playing.

i know i'm a much better joiner-in now, so well might they be too, if we just tell them & make it clear.

comments,

cheers

mr h

Subject: RE: Annoying Bodhran, what to do?
From: GUEST,toribw who should be working
Date: 28 Jun 02 - 12:54 PM

At our local session, the four or five bodhran players who come regularly have learned to take turns on tunes that are suited to the bodhran. Luckily we (as I play -- yes, play-- the bodhran myself) all were able to come to that agreement easily and without any rancor. For some reason, our session seems to attract reasonable and (mostly) respectful bodhran players.

However when one brought a djembe and was trying out some new rhythms, that person was told quickly and in no uncertain terms to lay off. The djembe is a thing of the past.

Sometimes telling someone directly is the only way to go. It's not always fun, but it has to be done. Politely, if at all possible.

Subject: RE: Annoying Bodhran, what to do?
From: PageOfCups
Date: 09 Oct 02 - 01:49 PM

Somewhere way back there someplace, Rich said:
I was at a couple of sessions while on a visit to Chicago last year, where one of the session leaders commented that it must be tough to be a bodhran player and have to prove you're not one of those "Bodhran-owners"(His term, not mine) every time you play someplace new.

THANK YOU!!

I'm a fair-to-middling bodhran player who played flute from fourth grade through college in marching bands, concert bands, orchestras, wind ensembles, and woodwind quintets. I know how to listen. I know how to follow a melodic line. I know when to keep strict tempo and when to vary it. (I'm housebroken, too. ;-) ) And the person Rich quoted was right: it stinks to have to prove myself every time I open my case.

I understand the whole "bodhran-owner" concept. I've seen it way too many times at sessions. It p*sses me off that these un-musical clods make my life difficult by ruining the reputation of my chosen instrument. I've even left sessions because I couldn't get a tipper in edgewise due to bodhran "players" who have to play loudly on Every Single Blessed Tune.

Somewhere less far back, Emma said:
Many people say bodhrans should be seen and not heard. And in a sense I agree in certain situations. I won't play in songs unless there are ten thousand other people playing instruments and the tune has the right rhythm to play bodhran to.

Looks like we're in competition for the title of world's most polite bodhran player! :-) You go - er, not go, in this case - girl!!

Despite there not being ten thousand others playing, I got brave & asked to play at a pub session when I went to the Fleadh in Ennis this summer. An obvious Yank, an unknown quantity, and I was still welcomed. I tried to make a good impression as well as have fun, and I believe I did both.

Subject: RE: Annoying Bodhran, what to do?
From: Amos
Date: 09 Oct 02 - 04:03 PM

I've mentioned elsewhere that I had the honor of watching PJ Swanno hold an entire crowded pub enthralled with nothing but a flashing smile and a brilliantly played bodhran. And she neverr used it to intrude on another's playing, which is a situation I would think would be well-solved with a pint of 10W30 motor oil.

Blessings on right-minded bodhran players all, sez I. don't forget that banjo players and accordion players (and I married one!) have a similar cross to bear! :>)

A

Subject: RE: Annoying Bodhran, what to do?
From: Bee-dubya-ell
Date: 09 Oct 02 - 05:11 PM

The absolute first rule for bodhran players should be this:

Never, ever, under any circumstances, regardless of how friendly they are, regardless of how cute they are, and regardless of how drunk you are you to loan a bodhran to anyone at a session unless you know for a fact that they know how to play the thing!

My wife made the mistake at one of our recent sessions of passing hers to a guy who swore repeatedly that he knew how to play one but just hadn't brought his with him. Yeah, sure. Within 15 seconds I was ready to gore the guy with the pointy end of my banjo. She has made a solemn promise never to do it again.

Bruce

Subject: RE: Annoying Bodhran, what to do?
From: Gareth
Date: 09 Oct 02 - 05:28 PM

Or you could shout "Pull" and give it both barrels !

Gareth

Subject: RE: Annoying Bodhran, what to do?
From: Mr Happy
Date: 09 Oct 02 - 09:08 PM

there's an precision instrument manufacturer in uk who makes a device eminently suitable for muting inappropriate drumb playing. its called a stanley knife!

Subject: RE: Annoying Bodhran, what to do?
From: GUEST,Al
Date: 09 Oct 02 - 11:37 PM

I have never heard one played well. It always sounds off somehow. Must be a difficult instrument. Al

Subject: RE: Annoying Bodhran, what to do?
From: alison
Date: 10 Oct 02 - 12:28 AM

that's the problem ...... its easy to get a noise out of... so any fool can try... but it is more difficult to "play"

slainte

alison