I have been in love with the taiko since I saw the Toronto-based group Yakudo play at the Japanese Canadian Culture Centre. Since that I have always wanted to hear the world's best.
Last night my wife and I had finally the pleasure of seeing, hearing and feeling one of the world's foremost taiko (Japanese drum) groups, Kodo perform live at Toronto's Massey Hall. This was an unforgettable experience! The amazing precision of the players, their total focus on both their own instrument as well as on their fellow group members' play, the exciting variety of compositions, and the enormous amount of energy released, all collaborated to produce something truly magical.
The Kodo show did not present taiko only but a great number of other Japanese instruments (fue, shamisen, etc.) and beautiful songs as well.
The occasional humour let people's mind and sould ease up a little from all the vibrations that made our bodies (certainly mine) resonate to the beat of the great taiko.
Some say the vibrations of the great taiko resemble the heartbeat (one meaning of Kodo, the group's name) of the mother, and make babies fall asleap. Well, there was an amazingly well-behaved little boy in the row in front of us, who, after being initially startled by all the noise of the drums, started to become somewhat restless. Clearly, the show was getting too long for him. However, as the great taiko began roaring, he started to quiet down, eventually almost fell asleep as well.
One thing is for certain. Once you hear the sound of the great taiko, not much else will have room in your body and soul. Its thunderous sound has a cleansing effect. It purifies by not letting anything else in. Its vibrations inside the body cause something akin to a meditative state where one exists in a beautiful world of harmony and rythm.
Something everyone must experience!
Last night my wife and I had finally the pleasure of seeing, hearing and feeling one of the world's foremost taiko (Japanese drum) groups, Kodo perform live at Toronto's Massey Hall. This was an unforgettable experience! The amazing precision of the players, their total focus on both their own instrument as well as on their fellow group members' play, the exciting variety of compositions, and the enormous amount of energy released, all collaborated to produce something truly magical.
The Kodo show did not present taiko only but a great number of other Japanese instruments (fue, shamisen, etc.) and beautiful songs as well.
The occasional humour let people's mind and sould ease up a little from all the vibrations that made our bodies (certainly mine) resonate to the beat of the great taiko.
Some say the vibrations of the great taiko resemble the heartbeat (one meaning of Kodo, the group's name) of the mother, and make babies fall asleap. Well, there was an amazingly well-behaved little boy in the row in front of us, who, after being initially startled by all the noise of the drums, started to become somewhat restless. Clearly, the show was getting too long for him. However, as the great taiko began roaring, he started to quiet down, eventually almost fell asleep as well.
One thing is for certain. Once you hear the sound of the great taiko, not much else will have room in your body and soul. Its thunderous sound has a cleansing effect. It purifies by not letting anything else in. Its vibrations inside the body cause something akin to a meditative state where one exists in a beautiful world of harmony and rythm.
Something everyone must experience!
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