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Taiko: The Drums Of Ancient And Modern Times

Japanese taiko drums are perhaps some of thetroops, setting a marching pace, or
most dramatic percussion instruments everdisseminating orders. In everyday life, both
created. Originally used in both Japanesethen and now, the drums are used in the
folk and classical musical traditions, taikoreligious music of both Shinta, Japan's
drumming has moved with the times and evolvednative religion, and Buddhism, which was
into a modern art form called kumi-daiko,imported some time around the 5th century.
which refers to ensemble taiko drumming.Additionally, noh theatre, kabuki theatre,
Exhibitions of kumi-daiko can include taikoand gagaku, the traditional music of the
of all different shapes, sizes, and pitches.Japanese imperial court, utilize the sounds
Anywhere from one to dozens of performers useof  taiko  drums.
sticks called "bachi" to strike the
instruments.As previously mentioned, modern taiko
performances take the form of kumi-daiko, or
There are many different types of taiko, butensemble drumming. Daihachi Oguchi is
they all share one feature-heads on bothcredited with forming the first modern taiko
sides of the body, which are characterized byensemble, Osuwa Daiko, in Japan in 1951.
a high level of tension. Such a design isHowever, there have been several other
most likely the result of Japan's summerinfluential taiko groups. Sukeroku Daiko also
climate, which is very hot and humid. Drumemerged in the early 1950s, and the group's
heads with high levels of tension wouldperformances were heralded for their speed,
counteract the slacking effects of thatfluidity, power, choreography, and solo
humidity. Taiko drums can range greatly inperformances. In 1969, Za Ondekoza was
size, but largest is the Adaiko. Such drumsfounded by Tagayasu Den. This group would
are made from a single piece of wood, ofteneventually evolve into Kodo, one of the
from trees that were hundreds of years oldworld's most recognized performance ensembles
when finally felled. Indeed, some Adaiko areand host of the Earth Celebration
so large that once they've been placed in aInternational  Music  Festival  since  1988.
Shinta shrine or Buddhist temple, they are
never moved again. Other types of taiko drumsOver the past few decades, taiko drumming has
include the shime-daiko (which is availableseen a significant increase in popularity in
in various sizes), uchiwa-daiko (fan drum),the United States. The first American taiko
hira-daiko (flat drum), and o-daiko (biggroup, San Francisco Taiko Dojo, was formed
drum).in 1968 by Seiichi Tanaka, a post-war
Japanese immigrant. Other similar groups
The existence of the taiko drum can be tracedfollowed and in 1990, students at UCLA formed
back to 6th century Japan. It will come as nothe first intercollegiate taiko ensemble,
surprise to anyone who has attended a taikoKyodo Taiko. This founding marked a new and
performance that in feudal times, thesepopular trend for taiko in the United States.
instruments were often used for martialToday, it is estimated that 36 collegiate and
purposes. Their resounding and invigorating300 independent taiko groups exist in
resonances were ideal for motivating theAmerica.



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