World renowned taiko ensemble KODO to return to Royce Hall, UCLA, Feb. 9-11, 2007
Translating as “heartbeat” or “children of the drum,” KODO generates waves of intense rhythmic percussion to create a primal musical experience. (Photo by Ryuichi Okano. Courtesy of UCLA Live)
In 2006/07 World Music Series, UCLA Live features Japan’ s powerful taiko ensemble KODO from Friday, Feb. 9 – Sunday, Feb. 11 at Royce Hall in the UCLA campus.
Translating as “heartbeat” or “children of the drum,” KODO generates waves of intense rhythmic percussion to create a primal musical experience. Formed in 1981 by a community of people who sought to preserve the traditional Japanese performing arts, these intense percussionists from Japan’s Sado Island electrify audiences with their virtuosity, enormous strength and stamina.
“KODO reminds its audience that, above all, its music is a matter of flesh and blood, wood and stretched skin. KODO can raise the roof, but can also show extraordinary finesse,” wrote The New York Times.
Always a crowd-pleaser, this one-of-a-kind ensemble makes it triumphant return to Royce Hall as part of their 2007 One Earth Tour promoting global unity.
On Feb. 9 and 10, the evening performances begin at 8 p.m. at Royce Hall. The special matinee show as part of the Design for Sharing Family Series begins at 2 p.m. on Sunday, Feb. 11 at Royce Hall.
Through UCLA Live’s Design for Sharing Family Series, children and their families experience award-winning, international performing arts together. The series is named for UCLA Live’s outreach program, Design for Sharing, which has offered an eclectic mix of events and programs in the performing arts for children and the community for more than 37 years.
Special matinee performances for all ages are discounted when purchased as part of the Design for Sharing Family series.
Regular tickets for KODO performances are $50, $38, $28 and $17 for UCLA students.
The special matinee tickets for children 12 years and under are $17. These children’s priced tickets are available through phone sales only. Call (310) 825-2101.
For regular tickets and information, visit www.UCLALive.org.
Taiko Fest ’07 at Biola University, Feb. 24
Taiko Fest '07 will be held at Biola Univeristy on Saturday, Feb. 24 at 7:30 pm. Admission is free. The festival features Kishin Daiko and Zendeko in Los Angeles. The concert will be held at Sutherland Hall Auditorium.
Biola University is located at 13800 Biola Ave. La Mirada, CA 90639. For more information, call Glen Kinoshita, Director of Multi-Ethnic Program at (562) 944-0351 ext. 5832.
The Taiko Fest at Biola was originally started to expose students from
various backgrounds who were not familiar with Taiko. Now the event becomes open to the general community, all are invited.
Taiko for kids comes to Orange County
Children volunteer to beat the taiko after the performance of Japanese Festival Sound during the “School’s Out Summer Series” at the Orange County Performing Arts Center in Costa Mesa. (Cultural News Photo)
Japanese Festival Sound plays festival pieces of taiko from both Japan and the U.S. Led by veteran taiko player Johnny Mori, center, Gorge Abe, right, accompanies on fue and shakuhachi (woodwind instruments). Kris Bergstrom, left, member of the Southern California-based On Ensemble, occasionally joins the group. (Cultural News Photo)
By Takeshi Nakayama
Japanese Festival Sounds, led by Los Angeles-based musician Johnny Mori, thrilled and delighted children and family members with a taiko performance during the “School’s Out Summer Series” recently at the Orange County Performing Arts Center in Costa Mesa.
The July 13 show, first of a three-day event (July 13-15), featured Mori, George Abe and Kris Bergstrom explaining the history of taiko, demonstrating basic rhythms on large custom-made drums, and playing festival pieces from Japan and the United States. Highlighting the show was Mori’s performance of shishimai (lion dance).
According to Jennifer Mahal, publicist for the Orange County Performing Arts Center, the Japanese Festival Sounds segment of the School’s Out Summer Series attracted a total of 400 children and family members—80 on Thursday, 105 on Friday and 215 on Saturday.
Children in the audience included Austin Berry 14, of Costa Mesa, who volunteered to beat the drums after the performance. “I think it was a pretty cool experience,” he relates. “Hitting the taiko makes me feel excited. I like taiko because I like the basic rhythm and I liked the drummers.”
His grandfather, Tom Gee, China-born resident of Santa Ana, says he came to the program because, “I think it’s a good thing to learn about cultures of other countries and absorb it into your own background.”
It was a “very interesting experience,” Gee observes. “I played drums … in the 10th and 11th grade and tried to get into the drum and bugle corps (in Los Angeles). But that’s Americanized, and (taiko) is based on ancient traditions. I think it’s interesting how they put it all together.”
Amy Wong of Laguna Niguel, attending the event with her grandson, exudes, “I thoroughly enjoyed the program ... I thought I knew quite a bit about the Japanese culture, but I learned more. The performers did a great job, and the way they presented the material was good.”
Her grandson, Darren Wong, 10, says, “I liked the performance because it was really loud and I just really liked it.”
Paige Payne of Yorba Linda brought her two children and three other youngsters ranging in age from 4 to 11 years of age. “It was fascinating,” she states. “I like taiko because, especially for children, it really draws them in with loud rhythms and colorful costumes. It’s an exciting art form. The children can relate to the drums, the loud sounds.”
Jason Holland, Manager of Education Programs at the Orange County Performing Arts Center, says, “We wanted to do some things for families to keep coming to enjoy the arts in the summer. We included taiko because I wanted this to be a chance for kids in Orange County and their families to learn about different cultures.”
The taiko show was “wonderful,” comments Holland. “You can see it on the faces of the kids. They really get engaged. I think the kids get really excited by it ... I want them to learn more about Japan, taiko, and the culture. I used to live in Japan when I was little, so I have a special love for the country and the culture.”
An artist with the Orange County Performing Arts Center, Mori regularly visits Orange County schools from September to June to play taiko and share the Japanese and Japanese American culture with students. “It’s something I really enjoy doing, helping to explain … the Japanese American culture, the rhythms and stuff like that,” he says.
Playing taiko is “a lot of fun,” exclaims Mori, also the Producing Director of Performing Arts at the Japanese American Cultural and Community Center in Little Tokyo. “You get to play with a lot of people, you get to beat on these drums and let out a lot of energy. Not only do I get a smile on my face when I play, but I think the audience does too.”
Takeshi Nakayama is a free-lance journalist who lives in Walnut, Calif. He has written articles for the Nikkei West, Nichi Bei Times, Gardena Valley News and many other publications.