Lambeg drum: Ireland musical instrument

 A lambeg drum is a large Irish drum that is beaten with the use of curved Malacca canes. The musical instrument is mainly used in the Northern part of the country by Unionists and the Orange Order traditionally in the street parades held in the summer, especially on an around 12 July. The weight of the musical instrument means that the instrument had been replaced with smaller versions that are similar for most parades, though the full-sized version of the musical instrument has begun to reappear in the recent years, often on floats. The musical instrument is also used by the Ancient Order of Hibernians, having historical worth for parts of the nationalist community also.

source of picture: abalmoralperspective-h..

Together with the bagpipe instruments, the musical instrument is one of the loudest acoustic musical instruments in the world, frequency reaching over 120 dB. The musical instrument measures roughly 3 feet ¼ inches in diameter and 2 feet deep. The weight of the musical instrument is about 35 pounds to 40 pounds. Normally, the drum is carried by the player while marching, with the use of neck harness.

The origin of the musical instrument is not clear. It is generally believed that the instrument have come to Ulster with the English settlers in the early 17^th century. Other accounts of the instrument states that the instrument came to Ireland with the Duke of Schomberg’s men of the army of William of Orange during the Williamite war. The instrument that had its root in the 17^th century European military musical instruments, the instrument was traditionally smaller. Originally, the musical instrument was accompanied by the shrill fife, a small transverse flute that is analogous to the piccolo. Over time, the musical instrument grew in size via emulousness between the players of the drums. The musical instrument suddenly got to such a scale that the fifes are drowned out. Contemporarily, the fife and the lambeg drum along together are the exception instead of the norm in parades; the combination is most common in County Antrim.

The name of the musical instrument comes from the village of Lambeg, County Antrim that is located 10 miles southwest of Belfast and 2 mile from Lisburn. Tradition has it that the musical instrument was first played in Lambeg area with the use of canes. The drum is sometimes known as tibbies, killymans or slashers.

The drum shell of the musical instrument is commonly made of oak. The head of the musical instrument are of the skins of goat, they are very thin and strong and are of good thickness and even consistency all over. The skin of the musical instrument will also receive treatment that is a secret to the producers. Because of the qualities of the instrument, they are sometimes used for smaller drums like bodhrans.

The musical instrument is different from other large drums in the quality of their tones. The thin heads of the instrument are pulled tighter until the tone of the instrument is bright and strong. There are no mechanical screws on the musical instrument. The heads of the instruments are held on with a wooden rim and linen ropes, traditionally.