Taiko ~ Japanese drumming ~

[midorichan]

My very first thread! I'm glad it's about taiko, because it's my favourite activity. So I would like to ask you all...

Have you ever seen a taiko performance? Or have you ever played taiko?

If you haven't here's some info that can get you interested!



The taiko (太鼓), sometimes refered to as wadaiko (和太鼓) is a japanese drum that comes in various sizes and is used to play a variety of musical genres. It has become particularly popular in recent years as the central instrument of percussion ensembles whose repertory is based on a variety of folk and festival music of the past. Such taiko music is played by large drum ensembles called kumi-daiko. Its origins are uncertain, but can be sketched out as far back as the 6th and 7th centuries, when a clay figure of a drummer indicates its existence. China influences followed, but the instrument and its music remained uniquely Japanese. Taiko drums during this period were used during battle to intimidate the enemy and to communicate commands. Taiko continue to be used in the religious music of Buddhism and Shintō. In the past players were holy men, who played only at special occasions and in small groups, but in time secular men (rarely women) also played the taiko in semi-religious festivals such as the bon dance.
Modern ensemble taiko is said to have been invented by Daihachi Oguchi in 1951. A jazz drummer, Oguchi incorporated his musical background into large ensembles, which he had also designed. His energetic style made his group popular throughout Japan, and made the Hokuriku region a center for taiko music. Musicians to arise from this wave of popularity included Sukeroku Daiko and his bandmate Seido Kobayashi. 1969 saw a group called Za Ondekoza founded by Tagayasu Den; Za Ondekoza gathered together young performers who innovated a new roots revival version of taiko, which was used as a way of life in communal lifestyles. During the 1970s, the Japanese government allocated funds to preserve Japanese culture, and many community taiko groups were formed. Later in the century, taiko groups spread across the world, especially to the United States. The video game Taiko Drum Master is based around taiko.

One of the most famous taiko groups is Kodo, which I had the pleasure to see here in Buenos Aires last year.



Playing taiko is a wonderful experience, you feel your body vibrating along with the drum, and the best is that you can transmit all that energy to the audience. If you haven't tried, I recomend it!

To end this post, I leave you a video so you can watch and listen to taiko: Zoku, played by Kodo.

Enjoy!

[.eXist.//.infiniTy.]

I've never played it, but I've seen quite a few performances. It's really cool, and it has a really fun energy. I saw the Matsuri show in Vegas when I went, it was sooo fun lol. I hope that they're still doing it next time I go, I would love to see it again!

I like when they do tricks and stuff while playing the drums. They make it seem so easy. o.O

[Garnet]

Once I saw a taiko performance, it was great! it also combined exotic instruments, dance and sounds~
I've never played taiko but I played the game taiko no tatsujin lol, not that it counts tho xD;

[overthesky]

Oh, there are quite a few around here. The best is the Okinawa style, which has coreography instead of just the drumming. Check Ryukyu Koku Matsuri Daiko in YouTube, they're awesome.

[animex]

I saw a some Taiko drumming in Atlanta once...I was glued to the performances!

[Shurakai]

I've seen a couple of performances and they were absolutely awesome! I love the intricate rhythm and awesome power Can't say I've had the chance to play a taiko drum, except on those arcade taiko no tatsujin game in game centres and the one on psp.

[midorichan]

@.eXist.//.infiniTy.: Thanks for being the first to reply! I haven't learned any tricks with the bachi (that's what we call the sticks), but I'm eager to learn, I think it makes it look more dynamic.

@Garnet / Shurakai: Yes I know Taiko no Tatsujin, the idea is the same, is not too far from the actual taiko playing. If you think about it, you need the same coordination and rythm, although the sensation is completely different of course!

@overthesky: Awesome recommendation, thank you! O brigado! There's a Matsuri daiko group here in Argentina too!

@animex: I know that feeling, it reminds me the first time I saw taiko, and everytime I get to play it

[Mokkori Chan]

ngg...i played it...but in the arcade... =D

but usually if there any bunkasai in some university, there will be taiko performances...

and i like it...pretty cool actually....

and one of my friend joined one of the taiko performance until now....even i never saw her played one of it...but there's a photo of her practicing and playing it....

[yellowskin]

When I was in junior high school, I joined the "Taiko" club,
and played at local summer festivals.

Drums are relatively common,
but many japanese people have never touched.

I love that sounds!

[tomatofishy]

My school have a taiko club, I've once seen them played they are really good at it.
Well, I am actually interested in this because my idol played it in the musical but I didn't dare to join the club, I always failed when I played the arcade ones.

[xieyali]

The only taiko I've ever played is Taiko no Tatsujin, but it was really fun so I want to try to play the real thing someday.

[jdbgosbg]

I've seen the performance, and played one my self. except they were the Okinawan version :]

[ministr]

To really appreciate taiko one has to be at a venue at which they are performing. Though it is nice to see it this way it does not do taiko any justice as one truly as to "experience" taiko; the energy of it.

[maruuu]

I've seen quite a lot of taiko performances in some japanese festivals, but never really played one my self, it looks so hard ><
But maybe someday I'll try the real thing... it's so good to feel the vibration and the sound with your body xD

[PandyAndy87]

I saw a taiko performance at a local Japanese festival a few years back, it was very exciting! I'd like to find some traditional music CDs if they exist :P