Not only
do we make musical instruments and accessories
to the highest standards and supply instruments from Ireland and around
the world but we also provide information, advice and help on
maintaining and playing them. We have built up an expertise and
reputation for promoting and helping customers with every aspect
of care and use of our products.
This section
is to support our products and show you how to maintain them to
the standard you would expect from superior musical instruments
and whether its a Bodhrán or Tin Whistle we can help you
get the most from it.
Your Bodhrán is made with a goatskin, which is a
natural material. The skin is cured with lime
for about 7 days. This softens the skin and
allows the hair to be rubbed off. Then the back
of the skin is scraped of any fat and membrane
to leave it smooth on both sides. The skin is
then left in a solution of brine i.e. salt and
water, for about 2 days. This is the curing
process and at this stage the skin can be
stretched and dried naturally.
As a result of the curing process most of the
natural oils are washed away. Because the skin
is a natural material it is very susceptible to
changes in heat and humidity, so keep your
Bodhrán away from warm surfaces and direct
sunlight. Too much heat dries and tightens the
skin to produce a loud high-pitched noise when
played. It can also cause the skin to tear off
the rim or permanently warp and distort the
Bodhrán rim. If the skin is too tight, moisten
it with a damp cloth. Water is a good way to
moisten skin. Too much moisture slackens the
skin making it as difficult to play as a wet
rag. If the skin is too damp you can dry it with
a hand or hair dryer but do not use a naked
flame. It is a good idea to oil your Bodhrán on
the outside as it makes the skin supple and
produces a better sound. Some of the oils used
by Bodhrán makers are almond oil, raw linseed
oil, dubbin and baby oil. Other makers recommend
saddle soap, Guinness or a mixture of beeswax
and Vaseline. All of these are suitable and
really come down to a personal preference.
Recently, we have found that the best is hand
moisturiser and is also the easiest and most
pleasant to use. Remember, if you store your
Bodhrán for a prolonged period; give it a good
coat of oil or moisturiser and keep it away from
extreme temperatures.
These simple instructions should benefit you in
the maintenance of your Bodhrán and ensure many
years of playing.
Bodhrán History
There is no definitive history of the Bodhrán.
We can only rely on word of mouth handed down
through the generations like the stories and
legends narrated to us by our parents and
grandparents. What we know about the Bodhrán is
only hearsay.
Basic research will deliver several and varied
opinions on the drums roots. Many claim it as an
ancient druidic drum and indeed the frame drum
is the oldest form of drum. In the case of the
Bodhrán, a trade route could feasibly be traced
back over several millennia to Persia where the
frame drum is considered to have originated.
Most make the connection to its use in
winnowing, separating seeds and this would
provide the most likely source as it provided
the basic drum for most of the other frame
drumming cultures. More recently it may have
come from North Africa where it is still used
today and played by the hand. Ireland traded
with the Mediterranean countries making this a
likely explanation.
For the dying of wool the rim could have been
made of bent willow with the skin stretched and
tied over the circular willow then punctured to
allow the dye to pass through. For dying the
popular colours then would have been purple,
from heather, green, from heather also and
orange from carrots. Purple and green are known
as the Celtic colours.It
was also used in battle as a war drum to rise
the temper of the fighting men against the
enemy.
The first we hear it mentioned it folklore is
from our grand parents and they probably heard
it from their grandparents and this was
regarding the wren. We can presume it was used
around in the 18th century and maybe
many centuries before that. As the wren is said
to be a pagan ritual we don’t know how far it
goes back. There is no written history that I
can find. John B Keane wrote the Bodhrán Makers
but that was a novel not a history. What it does
tell us is that the Bodhrán was well known
around the Kerry area and was part of the local
tradition, well enough known to write a book
about it. It is fitting so that the World
Bodhrán Championships are held in Kerry.
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Flute MaintenanceBefore assembling the flute,
the cork seals must be greased with cork grease
or Vaseline to prevent damage to the corks and
for easy assembly. This must be done each time. After use the flute must be
taken apart and the bore should be cleaned with
a cleaning rod. Be careful not to move or
dislodge the upper cork stopper when cleaning
the head. Then flute must be stored in an even
temperature away from extreme heat, cold or
damp. Remember
the flute is made from natural materials and
is affected by its
environment. The bore of the flute has
been oiled with almond oil or bore oil to keep
the wood from drying out. This should be done
occasionally (every 4-6 months) using,
sparingly, almond or bore oil, or if not
available use raw linseed oil.
GUARANTEEThis flute is guaranteed for
one year against defects of workmanship.
However, failure to carefully follow
themaintenance routine will void the guarantee.
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The Split Beater
This can also be called the click beater, as the
sound it makes is similar to shoes clicking
together. The beater is simply cut into four at
one end to create that sharp clicking sound when
beaten against the skin. Use the same as the
regular beater and experiment with different
beats. This is a good stick to use for jigs.
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The Bones
One of the
cheapest and smallest percussion instruments,
the bones are very popular with folk musicians
and they are very suitable for accompanying
Irish music. Bones are usually made from animal
ribs, which have good sound and also have a
natural curve which is important when playing.
There are
different ways of holding the bones but the
method I will describe here is the best for the
beginner. The convex sides of the bones must be
facing each other with narrow ends at the top.
See illustration below.
Hold one of the
bones between the first and second fingers ( we
will call this the top bone.) Place the other
bone (the bottom one) between the second and
third fingers. Curl the fingers around the edges
of the bones. The top bone must be held firmly
but the bottom bone should be held loosely, this
is the one which does the work as it swings back
and forth. Hold the bones about half an inch
apart and flick hands upwards, this will strike
the bottom bone against the top bone and you
should hear a distinct click. Try this over and
over again until you can do it every time.
Remember the bottom bone must be held loosely or
it won’t work for you.
Now try flicking
the hand back and forth and after some practice
you should hear a succession of clicks which is
called the roll. When you have mastered this you
are on your way to playing the bones. Practice
single taps, double taps and the roll until your
fingers become used to this new activity.
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Traditional Tin Whistle
The tin whistle is one of the most ancient of
musical instruments and has two very good points
being simple and in expensive .This however does
not make it inferior nor is it a second rate
instrument .On the contrary the tin whistle is a
full blooded musical instrument and in the right
hands is capable of making music of a quality
that can often surpass more eminent instruments.
The tin whistle is suitable for complete
beginners as well as experienced players. In
traditional music we tend to start our children
on the tin whistle it being the easier for
children to grasp. Then they graduate to flute,
fiddle, banjo, or accordion, having learned the
basics on the tin whistle.
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The Bow
Beater
This is used as a tipper i.e. only using one end
of the stick, and has become popular because it
is pencil thin. I have Weighted these fiddle
bows beaters to give it extra swing. These
tippers are made from old fiddle bows and so
they come in various timbers ie. Brazil wood and
pernambuco to name but a few. I hope you get
great enjoyment from this beater.
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The Cheating Spoons
So called
because they are joined at the base which makes
them easy to play. These spoons are played by
both beginners and advanced players.
They are held at the base by the right hand (
reverse for left handed) and between the knee
and the palm . Move the spoons up and down
between the palm and knee preferably to a reel)
while keeping to the rhythm of the music. (see
picture below left)
For variation use the open
palm and the fingers slightly apart, (see picture
above right). Run the spoons down the opened fingers
to the knee to give the effect of a roll.
Dave Harper
Tippers
The Dave Harper Tippers sometimes called the
“Hot Tipper" is the ultimate in hand made
beaters for the professional Bodhrán player.
Dave is known for making the best tippers and
beaters in the trade. He uses a variety of woods
including maple, ironwood “old ships planks”
green heart, yew, laburnum, ebony and African
Blackwood. Most of the tippers are laminated to
give that extra strength while turning the
timber on the lathe
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If you would like
to see more here why not
contact us. We would be more than happy to
research whatever information we can to assist
you.
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