This
is the famous Celtic drum with
roots in pre-Christian fertility rites. For many generations its use was
limited to Spring festivals and processionals honoring St. Bridget's feast.
It survived primarily in association with the festival of St. Stephen's
day. With the advent of Irish music festivals during the 1950's, the Bodhran
began to emerge from its ritualized past.
In recent years it has become ubiquitous among devotees of Irish and Scottish folk music. It is played with a small double-headed stick called the "tipper" or "kip" in a style using much wrist action and highlighting rapid-fire triplets. The sound can be muffled and varied by pressing on the inside of the skin. A heavy Goatskin head is tacked and glued to the steambent Red Oak frame.