The bodhrán - Mark Stone

The accomplished bodhrán player from Texas Mark Stone has recently released a new CD based bodhrán tutorial / practise aid. purchase from CD baby...

As well as the tutorial, there are tracks for play along and listening. The majority of the presentation is by Mark playing bodhrán on its own. When he is accompanied, Mark either sings or plays along with James Kelly (fiddle) or Paul McGrattan (flute).

The inside of the CD gives 2-3 lines of details on each track. For the 11 drum-only rhythm tracks this includes a time signature and a clear sticking pattern to help the listener play along. The notation used is similar to that used in the bodojo rudiments section if you wish an example.

The Cd also includes a track of sample exercises to work with the listener's tone (left) hand and on triplets using the top end of the Tipper

1. Reel (Cut Time) listen...
2. Reel Variation (Cut Time)
3. I'm Here Because I'm Here (Song) listen...
4. Jig (6/8 Time) listen...
5. Jig Variation (6/8 Time)
6. Jig with Rimshot (6/8 Time)
7. Harry-O (Skip Parente's Jig) Featuring James Kelly listen...
8. Slip Jig (Abbreviated Pattern, 9/8 Time)
9. Slip Jig (Full Pattern, 9/8 Time)
10. Hornpipe (4/4 Time)
11. Slide (12/8 Time)
12. Church Street Polkas (Featuring Paul McGratten) listen...
13. Polka (2/4 Time)
14. Tone Exercise (Cut Time)
15. Triplet Exercise (Cut Time)
16. Madam I'm a Darlin' (Song) (Featuring bodhrán solo) listen...

The Cd is a useful addition to the bodhrán player's collection providing a backing track that can be used to support your own practise and the learning of the standard celtic musical forms. It also supplies a couple of songs that a bodhrán player can learn for playing at sessions, all good stuff.

The price $15 is not at all prohibitive and the CD represents good value for money. Part of the proceeds of the CD are donated to a charity which adds to the overall feelgood factor.

Thanks to Mark for sending me the CD for review, I'm happy to have received it and happy to recommend it as an addition to the learner and developing bodhrán player's learning material.

Mark plays drums by Alfonso and Metloef

I'm away now to learn Madam I'm a darlin' :)

Paul Marshall

July 2005