Kodo is the world famous taiko drum group from Japan. That's the group that plays many different kinds of drums, including those huge ones that the guys beat with baseball bats! You have probably heard of them: http://www.kodo.or.jp
We hoped to see this group while here, but were not sure we could catch them since they tour globally. They are located on remote Sado Island, off the coast from Niigata. They have a center there where they practice, make instruments, and give lessons. When we looked them up, we found they are just starting their annual world tour, with the first concert on their island for the community. We couldn't resist. We cut short the time planned for Nara, and headed for the island.
Wow! What a treat! I cannot possibly describe it. They include great showmanship, great costume, kimono dance, and of course the drums!
One tune (or whatever you call it) was an incredible duet with a man and kimono-dressed woman. It started very simply: the man beating a solo 2-3-4 beat, accenting the 3 and skipping the 1. The woman entered the stage with very elaborate ritual dance, and gradually joined him at the drum. It is a large drum, laid on its side exposing both hides so that two people may play. She joined in playing the drum, at first duplicating the same pattern. She was able to play the drum while engaged in beautiful dance, with her arms twirling in just the right pattern to make the beats. Then he added a little different rhythm, and she echoed it. That continued back and forth, very simple and beautiful without even a single stroke off the basic four count. Then she issued a simple pattern of rim shots, off beat, which he answered. This began a conversation through the drum, with the underlying beat continuing as well as the rim shots. The dance became more vigorous, and the rhythms more complex. This continued to build and build, still with each laying down a pattern, and the other answering. What a beautiful thing!
Another tune consisted of many drummers on stage, with one master just barely making a sound on his drum (a very fast triple pedidle). He was able to coax the most delicate sound out of the drum. It seemed to whisper, rather than just be a beat. Very slowly, the others joined, and the volume increased. The rhythms again became more complex, but especially more powerful. The drummers took turns with very fast, short bursts on their drums. When doing so, the drums emitted a ringing sound that was kind of eerie. The volume increased. It began to sound much like a train coming by. The ringing of the drums was so intense, the volume so loud, that the harmonics sang from every wall of the concert hall. I have never heard such power and so many different timbres from a drum. Incredible.
Another tune featured their huge drum. It is constructed from a hollowed tree trunk, with a vertical drum head. The drum itself is taller than a person, and is wheeled in, in great ceremony on a cart lit with Chinese lanterns. The player is literally pounding this drum with his full strength. He was dressed in a simple thong, so part of the show was seeing all of his muscles work as he beat the drum. Amazing power. And on and on and on...
They are touring the US later this year. Don't miss it!
