Buffalo Thunder Drum
I
call these large ones "Buffalo Thunder". When played softly,
they make a sound reminicent of distant thunder.
It was reported by the Lewis and Clark
expedition that the passage of an indigenous bison herd made
sound
much like the sound
of thunder. And could take up to three days.
Oftentimes, when I am playing these drums, I
imagine the Spirit Bison Herd coming from the clouds in the
sky.
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Frosty Morning
Nice Hat |
Buffalo Thunder requires about thirty
hours labor
spread out over about a two week time
span
including preparation of the
hides.
I purchase the hides from packing firm
here in Colorado.
I process the hides myself.
That is why they have more hair left on
them.
The frames are constructed of sections
of redwood
cut and glued together and then
sanded.
I find the redwood to be light weight
and durable.
I use one hide each on the top and the
bottom.
The drum heads being taken from the
center of the hide.
The hide from Bison is much different
than that of cattle.
Where cattle are fairly uniform in
thickness across the back,
bison have areas of differing
thickness.
This allows the drum to have different
tones when played. |
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Single-sided
Double-sided |
From the belly and the smaller hides,
I
build the single-sided Shaman's Drum.
The
single sided-drums work well
for
the Shamanic Drumming Journey.
These I create with thirteen sections
of cedar wood
glued together and sanded.
Thirteen is in honor of the
Grandmothers.
The
back is then tied with seven laces to honor the
directions.
Thirteen to seventeen inch
diameter.
I
like to make the double-sided drum
from the rump of the hide.
The
extra thickness being durable to climate
change.
I
use sixteen sections of wood to honor
Grandfather Sky.
Thirteen to twenty inch
diameter.
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Price range for these drums is $70.00
to $200.00. Depending on size,and sound.
Beater is
included.
Drying the hides. The hide tightens as
it dries. This is why some drum frames warp and
break.
No two drums are
the same.
Each has
individual characteristics.
I do my best
to match a drum to the person it is going to.
And the climate in
which they live.
Please feel free to
contact me with any details to best fulfill your needs.
Custom orders
are welcome.
Below is current
inventory posted to web site.
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Single Sided Bison Hide
16 inch by 2.75 inch frame
from western cedar
Beater included
Price $140.00
Ref #00856
Drum head taken from side of
skin.
Nice deep
tone. |
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Single Sided Bison Hide
17 inch by 2.75 inch frame
from western cedar
Beater included
Price $160.00
Ref #00857
Drum head taken from side of
skin.
Nice deep
tone. |
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Double Sided Bison Hide
16
inch by 6 inch frame from western cedar
Beater included
Price $OLD
Ref #00858
Deep
Tone |
|
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Single Sided Elk
Hide
16
inch by 2 inch frame from western cedar
Beater included
Price $120.00
Ref #00881
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ORDERING
CONTACT
Photos
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Double Sided Bison Hide
20 inch by 20 inch
frame from redwood
Two
beaters included
Price $OLD
Ref #00867
Deep Tone
With two
beaters. |
30 inch Buffalo Thunder on Redwood
Frame
Price $OLD
Ceremonial Drum
24
inches by 14 inches
Price
$OLD
Ref #
01150
Thunder Drum
30 inches by 12
inches
Price
$700.00
Ref
#01153
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Double Sided Bison Hide
15.5 inch by 6 inch frame from
western cedar
Beater included
Price $OLD
Ref #00858
Deep
Tone |
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Double Sided Bison Hide
14
inch by 6 inch frame from western cedar
Beater included
Price $OLD
Ref #00880
Deep
Tone |
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Double Sided Bisonn Hide
15.5 inch by 6 inch frame from
western cedar
Beater included
Price $OLD
Ref #00726
Short hair drum
heads |
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Double Sided Bisonn Hide
13.5 inch by 6 inch frame from
western cedar
Beater included
Price $OLD
Ref #00625
Has short hair drum
heads |
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Single Sided Bisonn
Hide
15 inch by 2.75 inch frame
from western cedar
Beater included
Price $OLD
Ref #00724
Strong and durable.
Resistant to climate
change. |
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Single Sided Bisonn
Hide
16 inch by 2.75 inch frame
from western cedar
Beater included
Price $OLD
Ref #00723
Drum head taken from side of
skin.
Nice deep
tone. |
