Beats of Taiko by Haema
After viewing the San Jose Taiko Company perform I realized how fitting the name of their tour was to their show, The Rhythm and Journey Tour. Not only was I immersed in pure, unaltered beats and rhythms, but I also continued with this motion down a path to the show’s final stages.
Initially, the performance started out with only pure drums. The members integrated all types of Japanese drums, but, of course, highlighting the Taiko drum. Just as things started to get a little monotonous with only drumming, one member came out and started playing the Japanese bamboo flute, which added a beautifully graceful flow to the music. Instead of the music being solely composed of beats it had melody to it, which made the performance that much better. Also, the show developed more personality in it as it went along. For instance, humor came across with little “drum battles” between two groups of people. Or, happiness and joy were portrayed through songs and laughter in the piece Ei Ja Nai Ka? The cheerful nature of the piece lighted the pervious heavy moments.
When the performance ended I had the privilege to meet some of the wonderful artists. In doing so, the show I just witnessed grew in depth after I met and heard the artists answer various questions. I learned how The San Jose Taiko company had affected them, and what the pieces mean for them; how the artists held the pieces in their hearts. It was quite apparent that they had a very deep connection with what they just performed. Thus, it made everything I just watched feel a lot more personal, because I knew a person’s heart, soul, blood, sweat, and tears went behind each and every drum beat.
In the Rhythm and Journey Tour from San Jose Taiko, not only did I groove to the beats of the drums, but I also traveled the path that they showed me. My knowledge on Japanese drumming has grown immensely, and I hope this will not be the end of it.
Initially, the performance started out with only pure drums. The members integrated all types of Japanese drums, but, of course, highlighting the Taiko drum. Just as things started to get a little monotonous with only drumming, one member came out and started playing the Japanese bamboo flute, which added a beautifully graceful flow to the music. Instead of the music being solely composed of beats it had melody to it, which made the performance that much better. Also, the show developed more personality in it as it went along. For instance, humor came across with little “drum battles” between two groups of people. Or, happiness and joy were portrayed through songs and laughter in the piece Ei Ja Nai Ka? The cheerful nature of the piece lighted the pervious heavy moments.
When the performance ended I had the privilege to meet some of the wonderful artists. In doing so, the show I just witnessed grew in depth after I met and heard the artists answer various questions. I learned how The San Jose Taiko company had affected them, and what the pieces mean for them; how the artists held the pieces in their hearts. It was quite apparent that they had a very deep connection with what they just performed. Thus, it made everything I just watched feel a lot more personal, because I knew a person’s heart, soul, blood, sweat, and tears went behind each and every drum beat.
In the Rhythm and Journey Tour from San Jose Taiko, not only did I groove to the beats of the drums, but I also traveled the path that they showed me. My knowledge on Japanese drumming has grown immensely, and I hope this will not be the end of it.
posted by Haema @ 8:59 PM
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