What is Taiko?

 

     Taiko drumming, as it is referred to in the West, is a relatively new art form and performance style. The word Taiko means "large drum" in Japanese. These Japanese drum ensembles are known for their large drums, flashy choreography, and impressive physical displays demanded by this powerful drumming style. While drumming in general has ancient roots in Japan, it has only been in the last 60 years that the many different types of drums were brought together to play as an ensemble.

 

 

 

 

 

 

    

     This new style of performance has since developed into a the art form known as kumi-daiko, basically drum ensemble, and its creation has been credited to Daihachi Oguchi. As the story goes, a young jazz drummer in the early 50’s, Daihachi Oguchi, found an old taiko score and decided to perform it at his local shrine. He also decided to embellish the score and expand it for a larger ensemble of drums. He assembled various Japanese drums and percussion instruments together into a percussion ensemble for his performance. He orchestrated the ensemble by assigning parts to the different drums. The o-daiko, largest drum, was given the responsibility of outlining the pulse or beat of the piece. The smaller shime-daiko played background rhythms that characterized the piece. Lastly, the medium-sized nagado-daiko played the melody of the piece as well as soloed in various sections. The performance was a success and word of this new style spread fast. In 1951, Daihachi had created his own group, Osuwa-Daiko, which stressed intense physical and mental training for its members. Osuwa-Daiko and its style quickly became the standard for other kumi-daikos that sprang up all over Japan. By 1964, there were already several professional kumi-daiko groups which were featured along with Noh and Kabuki at the Tokyo Olympic Games held that year.

 

 

 

 

 

Kodo, is perhaps the best known Taiko drumming group in the world.

The group was started by former students of Daihachi Oguchi and the following video showcases the different drums and their respective roles.

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

The o-daiko drum, "large, fat drum," has a tacked on drumhead that is over 3 ft in diameter.

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

The shime-daiko comes in various sizes ranging from 8 inches in diameter to over 3 feet in diameter and are distinguished by their rope-tensioned heads.

 

 

 

How popular is Taiko in Japan?

 

They say imitation is the highest form of flattery...

 

 

My Taiko Piece

 

Yamazakura - "Wild Cherry Tree"

 

This piece was composed in March of 2010 and recorded on April 28, 2010 with the help of Dr. David Wilken on the campus of UNC Asheville.

 

Matthew Richmond - Shime-daiko (bongos)

Edwin Mericle - Oke-daiko (tom tom)

 

Reid Weigner - Oke-daiko (tom tom)

Ben New - O-daiko (bass drum) 

 

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Sources:

 

“Overview and History.” Taiko.com. 2010. 8 February 2010.

 

Varian, Heidi. The Way of Taiko. Berkeley: Stone Bridge Press, 2005.

 

Wade, Bonnie C. Music in Japan. New York, 2005.