Related Objects

KPFA-FM Music Dept. ➔ Evening Concert: Japan - USA Taiko Festival (July 4, 1981), 2 of 2

Analog Audio

Event Type

Music

Origin

KPFA

Identifier

AM.1981.07.04.c2.B

Program Series

Evening Concert

Program Length

126 min

Part

2 of 2

Dates

1981-09-07 | broadcast
| 1981-07-04 | created

Description

A stunning concert of the ancient art of Japanese Taiko drumming, recorded live at the Japan Center Theater in San Francisco, on July 4, 1981. Ensembles from the United States and Japan perform for a capacity audience in the first ever meeting of groups from the two countries. Masters of Ceremony Ben Nakajo and Junko Nakagawa introduce the players in English and Japanese, and comment on the art from and the individual selections. Grand Master Daihachi Oguchi, who leads an all-star ensemble featuring members of his own O-Suwa Daiko group as well as performers from two other major Japanese taiko groups, is interviewed midway through the concert and provides some background material on the art form, including the dictate that says performers must embody the music and first play five spiritual drums hanging from heaven before striking a sound from their physical counterparts.
The history of taiko is interwoven in the fabric that is the history of the Japanese people. Regarded as sacred since ancient times, the drum was first used to drive away evil spirits and pests harmful to crops. In times of drought, it was believed that by imitating the sound of thunder, the spirit of rain would be forced into action. At harvest festival time, the taiko was joyfully beaten in thanks for a bountiful crops, and at times of war it was known to have been performed as a means to pray for victory. In more recent times this ancient art form has been rediscovered and popularized in Japan and abroad, and is a sophisticated synthesis of rhythm, harmony, and body movements. (from KPFA Folio and Concert Program Guide)

Genres

World music

Musical Selections

Enju ”Long Life” (5:50) -- Misha Guji Yabusame “Archery on Horseback” (7:21) / Daihachi Oguchi -- Yuki Oroshi ”Snow Drums” (11:23) / Daihachi Oguchi -- Suwa Ikazuchi “Thunder at Suwa” (7:22) -- Hiryu Sandan Gaeshi “Leaping Dragon” (6:27)

Performers

All Japan Osuwa Taiko Group: (Enju ; Misha ; Suwa ; Hiryu)
Daihachi Oguchi, taiko (Yuki)
San Jose Taiko Group (Hiryu)
Denver Taiko Group (Hiryu)
San Francisco Taiko Dojo (Hiryu)
Etsuo Hongo, taiko (Hiryu)
Rick Shiomi, taiko (Hiryu)

Subjects

World music
Music -- Japan
Taiko (Drum ensemble)
Percussion ensembles
Flute with percussion ensemble
Percussion music

Related places

San Francisco (Calif.) (was recorded at)
Berkeley (Calif.) (was broadcast at)

Related Entities

All Japan Osuwa Taiko Group
O-Suwa-Daiko (Musical group)
San Jose Taiko Group
Denver Taiko Group
San Francisco Taiko Dojo (Musical group)
Yoshida, Michael
Nakajo, Ben
Nakagawa, Junko
Oguchi, Daihachi, 1924-2008