Wednesday, January 27, 1999
High on drums
The world’s best taiko percussionists – Japan’s Kodo group –
exemplify teamwork and strong traditional roots, and play at Royce
Hall this weekend
By Kevin Lau
Daily Bruin Contributor
It is beaten relentlessly from mid-morning until well past
sundown; its reverberations are heard and felt from afar; its
rhythms perpetuate until the beat of the drum and the beat of the
heart are one. That is the life of a Kodo miyadaiko, one of the
many drums that Japan’s Kodo Drummers will play with a passion in
Royce Hall starting tonight.
For the past two decades, Kodo has entranced audiences world
wide with its captivating beating of the Japanese taiko drum. The
15-member group’s combination of traditional and contemporary
scores has helped spread interest in percussion to a greater
population. Kodo has combined the use of traditional Japanese
drums, African drums, xylophones and other percussion instruments
with choreographed dance to immerse the viewer.
Since 1981, Kodo has brought its unique style to sold-out houses
in 30 countries and will return to Royce Hall this weekend for the
first time since the building’s seismic renovation. UCLA presented
Kodo at the Wiltern Theater in 1995 and 1997.
"(Kodo’s) quality of performance has been extremely high and is
second to none," says Michael Blachly, director of Performing Arts
at UCLA. "Their philosophy of their tour shows that their art form,
the aesthetics and the environment is all one to them."
In the interest of spreading its music, Kodo has also maintained
a concept that is the essence of its current "One Earth Tour."
Through the use of art as a means of communication, Kodo hopes to
bridge the cultures of the world by bringing a sense of commonality
to them.
"Kodo’s main objective is to bring a sense of community to the
world," says Daniel Rosen, the assistant road manager of Kodo.
"With all the cultural conflicts that occur, Kodo remains
accessible to all walks of life; the drum beat is universal amongst
all cultures."
The taiko drum in ancient Japan was said to have defined the
limit of a community by the farthest distance that the beating of
the drum could be heard. The concept of the "One Earth Tour" comes
from the fact that the taiko is used to bind a community
together.
"The taiko was a symbol of rural community," Rosen says. "The
village was defined by sound. Kodo wants to bring the sound of the
drum as far as it will carry. This gives people a sense that they
are members of a larger part."
Kodo’s rich sound and performance methodology is rooted deep
within its concept of daily life. The Kodo Village, on the southern
peninsula of Sado, Japan, provides a center of learning, study and
social exchange for the members of Kodo. There, the Kodo Village
not only strives to preserve the traditional arts, but to also
perpetuate the theme of communication that Kodo has envisioned
since its conception.
"It isn’t only about practicing together but also living
together," says Rosen. "Communication isn’t something that comes by
scattered practice. At the Kodo Village, people share tears and
laughter. Kodo goes beyond partnership, but to family and
intimacy."
The ideals expressed at the Kodo Village provide a basis upon
which Kodo has always performed. The members of Kodo are dependent
upon each other for the success of their performance.
"Everything is done by themselves," Rosen says. "The performers
unload the drums early in the morning and set up the stage
themselves. By doing everything themselves, Kodo understands what
goes into a performance."
Many artistic groups are created with a vision or goal in mind.
But, as the years of performance continue, many lose touch with
their roots and fall prey to commercial goals and visions. Kodo
hopes to maintain a sense of integrity in the performing world as
it continues the "One Earth Tour" with its original vision in
mind.
"It is important for us to not go towards a commercial
direction," said Rosen. "Many groups get too big and lose touch
with their goals in the first place. Kodo can sell out Carnegie
Hall and other large venues, but we still play many junior high
schools. "
Another one of Kodo’s goals is to preserve the art of the taiko
by passing down the traditional styles to the next generation. In
Japan, the group has created the Kodo Juku, a workshop where people
attend a five-day experience in Sado. During tours abroad, some of
Kodo’s members lead workshops in various cities, including one at
UCLA.
"Kodo has history going back to over 20 years," said Rosen.
"Kodo is special in that they are rooted in tradition but not bound
by it. We strive to maintain and to preserve this tradition by
passing it down from generation to generation."
One of the benefactors of Kodo’s teachings is the UCLA Kyodo
Taiko group. The student-run group will meet with Ryutaro Kaneko of
Kodo Saturday for a two-hour session.
"Kodo is arguably the best taiko group in the world," said Ron
Peterson, Nikkei Student Union taiko representative. "I hope to
learn a sense of what makes them so good, how they practice, how
they play, think and feel, to help better our own group."
Kodo is a firm representative of art as communication today.
Their history, talent and strong desire to connect the world will
continue its success not only as musicians and artists, but also as
humanitarians.
"The Performing Arts priority is to continually find artists
that look beyond the immediate eyes, that have a harmony with one
another, and that are in balance with the earth," says Blachly. "As
the world becomes closer and more technologically advanced, artists
are becoming more aware of how art can affect other people beyond
the immediacy of one’s environment."
MUSIC: Kodo plays at Royce Hall Jan. 27-30 at 8 p.m. and Jan. 31
at 2 p.m. Tickets are available for $36, $33, $29 and $13 (for UCLA
students with I.D.) at the Central Ticket Office and at all
Ticketmaster outlets. For more information call UCLA at (310)
825-2101.Masateru Sakaguchi
The famed Japanese taiko drum-group Kodo will perform at Royce
Hall today through Sunday as part of its "One Earth Tour."
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