Bones

Authentic Irish Goat Bones (1 pair)
These authentic imported Irish music instruments, hand-crafted from goat ribs in Ireland for Plunkett Percussion, are exactly like the bones played by Irish percussionist Aaron Plunkett, as heard in the epic film TITANIC. These bones have the best density characteristics for sound reproduction and playing action response. Due to the nature of a natural product, no two are exactly alike. Each pair is shaped and matched for pitch, timbre and speed, creating their unique, authentic sound. The pair is tethered by a leather thong.
Historical background & audio sample
$95.00 • 6 oz • # IRI-BON95

Note: 1 pair is two bones for one hand. You will need 2 pairs to play with both hands simultaneously.

• NEW Item •

Plastic Resin Bones (1 pair)

Aaron Plunkett's Blue Bones have been cast from Aaron's custom collection of
personally hand-crafted authentic Irish Bones. Plunkett uses advanced casting
applications and hi-tech materials to re-create his best bone shapes for ease of playing, balance, sound reproduction and ergo-dynamics.

Each model produces a different pitch in tonal range: Alpha/Slim--higher, Omega/Stout-- lower.

Alpha:
Slim
higher pitch
regular and larger hands

Omega:
Stout
lower pitch
smaller hands

More information ...

$25.00 per pair • 3.5 oz • # IRI-RES97
$45.00 for 2 pair

Note: 1 pair is two bones for one hand. You will need 2 pairs to play with both hands simultaneously.

Wooden Bones (1 pair)
Plunkett Percussion Wooden Bones, (approx. size: 1” x 1/4” x 7.5"), are custom shaped from Lignum Vitae, ‘Iron Wood’, one of the heaviest and strongest woods known to man. The density, consistent weight and balance of this wood, compared to any other wooden bones, particularly enhances the playing response and sound production. “Iron Wood doesn’t even float it’s so solid!”
Historical background & audio sample
$50.00 • 6 oz • # IRI-WOD96

Ironwood BONES/Product Description

Note: 1 pair is two bones for one hand. You will need 2 pairs to play with both hands simultaneously.

Instructional Video-Bones from the Beginning
The "BONES FROM THE BEGINNING" instructional video features 80 minutes of comprehensive, "Hands On" educational entertainment focusing the viewer on playing, preserving and understanding the tradition of ancient Irish Bone playing. Starting at the most basic levels and continuing on to advanced formats, one hand or two, this video shares and unfolds the timeless secrets needed to play one of the oldest instruments in the world using simple language phrases to convey complex and simple rhythms on the Bones. The video displays music and culture in a setting that is both enjoyable, educational and fun covering basic and advanced Celtic music forms such as Jigs/Reels/Slipjigs as well as multi-ethnic musical styles. Mr. Plunkett is one of a few select players who has developed a method so that the pitches change while playing, and his unique sound and abilities have afforded him many soundtrack recordings such as the epic film, THE TITANIC, where you can hear his featured Irish percussion tracks the Bodhran (Celtic Drum), Spoons and Bones.
Historical background & video sample

Video (DVD)

World Beats Performance Video Percussion From Around The World is a 33 minute compilation, featuring live, costumed performances of ancient, ethnic, percussive traditions found worldwide. Drumming styles explored are from Ghana, Ireland, India (South & North), Iran, the Persian Gulf, Egypt Turkey, the Balkans, Cuba and America.
Historical background & video sample
$29.00 • 1 lb • # WB-VID102

Irish Bodhran
Imported. These drums are hand-crafted by an Irish master drum maker steeped in the Bard and Celtic traditions. This authentic Irish Bodhran (pronounced bough-ron) was made specifically for Plunkett Percussion’s Aaron Plunkett, the Irish percussionist as heard in the epic film TITANIC. “This is one of the finest sounding Irish Bodhrans available,” says Aaron. “I spent months traveling Ireland in search of master instrument makers.” Artwork and craftsmanship at its best! This is truly a spectacular drum! Each Plunkett Percussion instrument is a completely customized one-of-a-kind. The drum is constructed from a laminated, light, wood frame with a reinforced crossbar and a precision-bearing edge for maximum resonance response from the skin. The head is a natural Irish goatskin. It is prepared using an ancient Celtic recipe. It is not milled, cut or planed. It provides sound like no other. The one shown here is 16” with custom artwork and partial hair left on the skin. Styles come in 14”, 14” tuneable and 16”. The customer may choose customizing with Celtic artwork from the Book of Kells, and/or partial hair left on the skin. These custom choices are individually priced and the cost of each choice is added to the overall cost of the drum.
Historical background & audio sample

Tablas (Professional Series)
These are imported professional recording series drums made from the highest grade, natural resources and craftsmanship available. They are architecturally constructed in accordance to the tonal and rhythmical aspects required of the music. The Tabla is made from high-grade rosewood and bound with durable leather straps, as is the Bayan, which is constructed of brass/copper and hand hammered into a brilliant bowl shape. The tonal response and articulate (head), skin construction on both the Tabla and Bayan (Dugga), are precise and musically sound (in tune). The construction of the head calls for a highly skilled craftsman to produce the nuances, melodic effects, and range of tones needed to respond readily to the demands placed on the Tablas. They are available in both Bombay and Calcutta styles and come with two durable rings, covers and tuning hammer.
Historical background & audio sample

Tabla Instructional Literature
~BACKORDERED~
The Tabla Legacy of Taranath Rao
(Book)
This is a comprehensive overview of the art of Tabla, adapted from a manuscript by the longtime teacher and performer in India and at the California Institute of the Arts, Pandit Taranath Rao. A series of beginner’s exercises is followed by hundreds of compositions in the numerous Gharanas (the different families or styles of playing the Tabla drum found in North India)—Farukkhabad, Lucknow, Ajrada, Delhi and Benaras. The text is generously illustrated with photographs and with Pandit Taranath’s own drawings. The book is indexed not only by subject, but also by the compositions according to their initial “bols” (drumstroke names). 8 ½ x ll”, 200pp.
$29.95 • 1.5 lbs • # IND-TX112

Learning Tabla with Alla Rakha
(Book and Cassette)
This is a step-by-step introduction for playing a single Tabla solo in the Punjab style as taught by the Tabla virtuoso best known for his many concert tours and recordings with Pandit Ravi Shankar. This book features an in-depth analysis of the logic behind the theme and variation forms. Included with the book is a tape cassette of Alla Rakha teaching, reciting and playing the compositions. 6 ½”x 8 ½ ”, 100pp. and tape cassette.
$19.95 • 1 lb • # IND-TX113

Learning Tabla with Alla Rakha
(Book and Videotape-VHS)
The Book is a step-by-step introduction to a single tabla solo in the Punhab style, as taught by the great maestro best known for his many concert tours and recordings with Ravi Shankar. The book features an in-depth analysis of the logic behind the theme and variations forms and the fixed compositions.

The Videotape: Fourteen years after the original publication of Learning Tabla with Alla Rakha, the accompanying videotape is now available. In Part 1, Harihar Rao narrates as Alla Rakha carefully demonstrates each stroke, phrase and theme from the book. In Part II, as Alla Rakha recites each composition to melodic accompaniment, a "karaoke"-like animation shows the unfolding structure of the composition and the current count of the rhythmic cycle. Finally, with the camera tight on his hands, Alla Rakha plays each composition.

"A wealth of knowledge ... an inspiration"
-- Emil Richards

TRT: 15 minutes / VHS - NTSC format
$52.95 • 1 lb • # IND-VID114

Tablah-Tabl/Dumbek
(Aluminum Goblature Drum)
This drum has an extremely clear, bright tone and can produce incredibly loud musical passages. It is from Egypt and is a marriage of old and new architectural designs that together form a very powerful instrument. The body is made of heavy cast aluminum and covered with a beautiful mosaic of Mother-of-Pearl inlay (Kotim), a revered design nuance of the highest cultural esteem. The skin is made from mylar, a moisture and temperature resistant artificial head that is always ready to play without any preparation. It is fastened by an adjustable high-tension rim made of aluminum, and fits snuggly with six tuneable tension rods. The drum is 17” tall, 10 ½” in diameter with a playing surface of 9”.
Historical background & audio sample
$475.00• 15 lbs • # EGY-TPRO118

Plunkett Project
“The Plunkett Project” combines traditional jazz with ancient ethnic percussion from Africa, Cuba, Brazil, Ireland, Iran, India, Ghana, Turkey, and the Balkans. This C.D. forms a synergistic brew of modern and ancient art forms. The interesting rhythm tracks, arranged by Aaron Plunkett, contribute an entirely new energy to this compilation of well known Jazz classics.
Audio sample
$11.00 • 6 oz • # PP-CD119

Safari
The first year it was released, the father and son album climbed to #14 on Billboards, Radio & Records National Airplay. When the predominant rhythms from latin and funk come together a compelling energy results.
Audio sample
$11.00 • 6 oz • # SA-CD120

Jazz Christmas
Eight familiar Christmas standards are infused with the rhythms and harmonies of Jazz creating a rich collage of sounds and a unique album of celebration and nostalgia.
Audio sample
$11.00 • 6 oz • # JC-CD121