Durational Taiko DRUMMING

In residence: 2017, 2018

Coppermoss has been honoured to host a group of Taiko drummers from Vancouver and the Sunshine Coast each June. The drummers come together to undertake a durational taiko experience, drumming for an extended period of time, 3 hours in 2017 and 5 hours in 2018. Not meant to be a performance for an audience, but rather a meditation between participants, the annual event begins with an acknowledgement and thanks to the shíshálh and culminates with Misogi in the inlet and a shared feast in the evening.

Drummers: Kage Eileen (lead), Leslie Komori, Noriko Kim Kobayashi, Linda Uyehara Hoffman, Joyce Chong, Jojo Quan, Tomomi Ouchi, Lynn Ouchi, Carol Yamada, Carol Shoji, John Nguyen, Anny Lin

Background of Taiko

For thousands of years, Taiko has been part of various traditional rituals and ceremonies still practiced all over Japan today.   Each particular area of Japan would have a particular style of drumming, a dance, a recurring melody for voice or for ‘fue’ (bamboo flute) and a ritual that may involve masks and the Shinto religion as part of their ceremony. These events would involve the whole village, often taking place from dusk to dawn or for several days. These events were and are in some places an integral part of people’s survival.  They ensured an abundant harvest for the coming year, maintained wellness or helped ward off illness. There would be preparation throughout the year or at least a few weeks before the event where the participants would practice their role in the ceremony be it the dance, the Taiko, song etc.  The repetitive drumming beats could be heard for hours throughout the day and the experience for the drummers was transformative. Today, many of these traditional ceremonies in Japan have disappeared or have been heavily adapted due to limited resources and modern day demands. Although, Taiko has, as a spectacular musical performance form, gained popularity all over the world they tend to be condensed in to a song format.  Although some Taiko players may experience this durational effect of Taiko during rehearsals or training, it is a rare opportunity. By creating a Taiko event along the forest and the creek that is durational and ceremonial, we recreated and highlight the powerful spirit of the traditional Taiko form.

Click an image to expand: