Wadaiko Tokara Japan - Presenter Kit

Wadaiko Tokara Repertoire - Video and Sound
This page gives a sample of repertoire from a 40 minute performance by Tokara.
Please feel free to click on the pictures to see video, and click on links at the bottom to hear audio samples.

SILK ROAD

This piece was created to be very different from usual taiko pieces, and is constructed with many different rhythms similar to Indian, African and Korean traditional percussive style. It also employs various time signatures including 3, 5, 7 and 9 counts. Silk Road follows a mythical journey of the taiko as it was created in the African continent and evolved as it moved through India, China, Korea and Japan.

MIZUKAGAMI

Mizukagami is played on all shimedaiko (small drum with a high pitch) where the left side players mirror the right, and inner players mirror the outer players. The speed and intricacy of this piece was received with thundering applause at its debut in Japan.

MIYAKE DAIKO

Around the island of Miyake, just off the coast of Tokyo, the ocean caresses, slowly and smoothly, the outstretched land. The drummers begin the day with a song with will and determination of their hard work during the day. The powerful voices and thunderous drums create ripples upon the waters. As the waters move away from the island, they begin to move rapidly and gain strength as the wind and the ocean floor pushes the waters upward and on, more powerfully until reaching the mainland with full force.

KAZAKOSHI

KAZAKOSHI is the mountain wind which flows across the mountaintop of Mt. Fuetsu, bringing a billowing mist into the Inadani valley from which we gather our strength and determination to share throughout the world.
Not simply a taiko performance, KAZAKOSHI is an expression of the powerfully flowing, yet jazzy style of performance for which Tokara has become known.

HATOU NO HIBIKI

The constant beating of the drums in our hearts are revitalized by the jazzy and enthusiastic rhythms that we play. Both the taiko drum and the drum of our hearts are forged together in eternal joy. At the bottom of the beach, we can see the Hatou where the water turns white as it's kicked up by sand and rock. The name signifies the beauty and calm of the lapping waves, but the piece itself takes you to a party...the one you can hear and see just beneath those lapping waves as the rocks and sand bump each other.

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Below are samples from our 2012 CD:
1. Silk Road
2. Mizukagami
3. Tenchi Shinmei
4. Jyoraimei
5. Kandou
6. Nagisa Monogatari
7. Hatou no Hibiki
8. Buchiawase Daiko

(previews are approximately 20 seconds each)
(All pieces are original and written by Tokara except "Buchiawase Daiko", which is a traditional piece)

Wadaiko Tokara Japan
3598 Misajiro, Matsuo, Iida City, Nagano Prefecture 〶395-0826 Japan. TEL: +81(0)265-59-8768