Back to category: Music

Limited version - please login or register to view the entire paper.

taiko drumming

Taiko reflects the spiritual side of Japan in that it combines irregularity with simplicity, suggestion with perishability. There is nothing else that sounds like a Taiko drum yet, the rhythm, which is said to be like a heartbeat, is so simple. It helps one confront their fears and overcome obstacles yet, while doing this it suggests a beauty never seen before and emotions never felt.
Taiko, which means “big drum” in japanese, has been apart of the Japanese
culture for hundreds of years and is considered the music of the people; it is not only a musical experience but, a physical one as well. The playing of the Taiko drum demands stamina of both the mind and the body. A Taiko drum is made from one piece of hollowed out wood with cow skin stretched over each end. They range anywhere from six inches to six feet in diameter and a Taiko group can contain two to fifteen members. There is currently around 4,500 taiko groups that display a wide range of style and sound. The drum c...

Posted by: Garrick Christian

Limited version - please login or register to view the entire paper.