Irish bodhran playing for St Patrick's Day

For St. Patrick's Day I offer two video clips of traditional Irish bodhran playing. The bodhran is an Irish frame drum. The goatskin head is tacked to a cylindrical wood frame and may or may not have one or two cross bars in the back.

The "top end style" (shown in the videos) is played with a smaller, deeper bodhran with a straight tipper played on the top end and the pitch changed with hand maipulation on the inside of the head.

The bodhran (pronounced bow-rawn)is the pulse of Irish music. Although a centuries old instrument---Some say it originated as a Celtic war drum---the bodhran was only introduced into traditional music in the '60's through the music of Sean O Riada and others and further popularized by groups like the Chieftains.

For wealth of information on the bodhran go to: http://www.ceolas.org/instruments/bodhran/

Happy St. Patricks Day!