Paul, I assume by "Ennis-itis" you mean snobbery?? I do play in the States and I think you might be right in your assessment of our love and romanticism for the old ways. I think some of the problem is the place I live in is renowned for being uptight. Probably the biggest problem are my predecessors who've aided the musicians in their anti-bodhran attitudes to such a degree that I was told early on by a pipes player that we have the "shitest bodhran players" in our town. Ouch. So I feel like I'm constantly living down this bad rep.It's kinda like I'm trying out for the band everytime(3local sessions a week)...a lot of these folks have known each other for decades and I'm a newby(year and a half) so getting accepted seems to be down to time, persistance and developing my skills.I just have a strong distaste for getting treated like dirt or ,at best, indifference.I'm trying though.Thanks again. Dan

Hey Dan,

I think snobbery is probably too strong (or inflamatory) a word to use, I'd go for 'elitism'.

I think that a certain hierarchy of instruments has developed over the years in the ITM scene that gives precedence to pipes, fiddles and the more long-established instruments. If you read Seamus Duffy's article (that I decided not to bring over to the new-look dojo), you will see this 'elitism' clearly exhibited

I think that in many cases people misunderstand the nature of a cultural tradition, or maybe I misunderstand it. At no point has ITM ever stopped evolving and at no point shall it do so. This means new blood, new techniques even <gasp> refining an old instrument to the point that it can contribute amazingly to the idiom.

In 20 years time when today's young firebrands are the traditionalists I wonder if bodhrans will be so unwelcome? Of course not, because they will have grown up with the Juniors, Johnjoes & Eamons and will have come to expect and rely on the lift & drive that a good drum player brings to a session. The sound of whining from these kinds of players is just the gas going out of their balloon as the atmosphere in which they survive becomes more and more rarified.

I think the baseline in all of this, and it goes for any instrument is that the player needs to be in control of his/her instrument. I've been in sessions with box players and fiddlers who really just ruined the whole group sound and yeah I'd prefer they weren't there. Not because of their instrument per-se but because they weren't in control of it.

As bodhran players we DO have to fight against the "buy a cheap drum at a renfaire, get a 20-minute-hold-the-Tipper lesson, and play big noise over everything" approach that can be witnessed in some places. I'd kick that person out of a session myself.

As to the chap who said "we have the 'shitest bodhran players' in our town", then there must be better players around, I'd go seek them out and find company where drums are welcomed, maybe start your own 'backpacks welcome' session in a local pub.

It's a tough one, the session guys of which you speak aren't playing by the rules, seems like they are making them up to suit themselves. Aren't cartels illegal? :)

Sorry to hear about all this hassle Dan, keep your chin up and your standards high :)