1. Traditional Japanese Drumming
太鼓 Taiko
Traditional Japanese Drumming

2. Origins Century old style of drumming (1400 yrs)
Rumbling sound of the drum associated with the gods
Drum is inhabited by a god
“It is said that the furthest point at which the village could be heard marked the edge of the village.”
Originated in temples and shrines
Festival related
Holy men allowed to drum

3. Okede-daiko Nebuta festival in Aomori Multiple sizes
Extremely large to very small
Not ALL sizes are possible
Produces a “ka” sound when struck
Strike the outermost metal ring of the body
Weak wood, easy to damage

5. Taiko in Warfare
Used to motivate troops, set marching pace, make announcements
Six paces per beat of the drum
Nine sets of five = ally summon
Nine sets of three = pursuit
Sped up x3 or x4

6. Taiko as an Art Pre-1950s not viewed as an art form
Previously used in courts to perform Gagaku music
Most popular current use is in a taiko ensemble
Post war phenomenon in Showa (1951)
Daihachi Oguchi (kumi-daiko style)

7. Taiko Terms Bachi (ばち） sticks used to play the Taiko
Ma (ま） a Japanese term for “space,” used in music to describe periods of rest
Oroshi (おろし） series of hits, sped up into a roll
O-uchi (おうち)　main rhythm
Ji or Jiuchi (じうち） basic supporting rhythm, described as the meter
Jikata is a person who plays the Ji rhythm

8. Taiko Drums The word taiko （太鼓） means “fat drum” in Japanese
Daiko is a suffix used to describe a type of drum or ensemble
The nagado-daiko (長胴太鼓、long body drum) consists of two pieces of cow hide stretched over a wooden barrel
Tsukeshime-daiko (付締め太鼓）heads are stretched over iron rings with smaller body, tight ropes

9. Other Drums Okede-daiko (桶胴太鼓, barrel-body taiko)
Uchiwa-daiko (内輪太鼓、fan taiko)
Hira-daiko (平太鼓, flat taiko)
O-daiko (大太鼓, big taiko)
The okede-daiko can be played on a stand, but are often strapped to the body so a drummer can walk as he plays

11. Kodo An elite taiko drumming ensemble
Based in Sado, Japan they helped to revitalize taiko drumming post WWII
Kodo （こど） means heartbeat, and also children of the drum