The thunderous sounds of Japanese taiko (tie-COE) drumming will fill Brevard on Saturday, November 21 st as part of the ZUMBATHON. Theses authentic Japanese drummers have thrilled audiences around the country with Japanese taiko drums, gongs, bells and bamboo flutes.

Hailed as exhilarating, flawless and mesmerizing -Each performance may feature three to six musicians whose focus is to rejuvenate the ancient art form of taiko drumming with modern interpretations. The concerts are a feast for the eyes as well as the ears; the musicians play oversized drums through a series of choreographed movements that resemble synchronized martial arts.

 

The early history of taiko

Taiko means "drum" in Japanese (etymologically "great" or "wide drum"). Outside Japan, the word is often used to refer to any of the various Japanese drums ( 'wa-daiko', "Japanese drum", in Japanese) and to the relatively recent art-form of ensemble taiko drumming (sometimes called more specifically, "kumi-daiko" ).

Along with the martial use of the Taiko drums, they also held a strong foundation in the court style music called Gagaku. You would expect to find this style of music held in the castles and shrines across ancient Japan. Gagaku alone is one of the oldest styles of court music that is still being played in the world today. The very old taiko are made with a tree trunk body and the Japanese chopped both ends off. These ends are carved carefully in flat plates and the tree body is hollowed out. They fit the plates on both ends and tie it with strong and thick grass and seal it with resin. The sticks are carved into smooth surfaces and they are used for the bachi. Then they are tested. If the sound is not right the grass is tightened until the sound is well tuned.

 

 

 

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