Kodo One Earth Tour – North America 2009 

 

KODO (Photo by Takashi Okamoto)

 

Program Notes

 

Performers: Takeshi Arai, Kazuki Imagai, Kazunari Abe, Masaru Tsuji, Masami Miyazaki, Yuichiro Funabashi, Mitsuru Ishizuka, Yoshie Sunahata, Yosuke Oda, Masayuki Sakamoto, Natsuki Saito, Kenta Nakagome, Tokio Takahashi, and Hiroko Shimauchi.

 

Artistic Director: Mitsuru Ishizuka. Lighting Designer: Katsuhiro Kumada.  Company Manager: Jun Akimoto. Assistant Company Manager: Yoshiko Ando. Technical Director: Martin Lechner. Stage Manager: Tatsuya Dobashi. Assistant Stage Manager: Masafumi Kazama. Conditioning Trainer: Mitsunaga Matsuura.

 

Program: Zoku (Leonard Eto,1989)  Tobira (Tsubasa Hori, 2006)

Miyake (Traditional, arranged by KODO) Tamayura-no-Michi (Shogo Yoshii, 2008) Monochrome (Maki Ishii, 1976) Koi-koi Fusha (Mitsuru Ishizuka, 2007) Jang-Gwara (Ryutaro Kaneko, 1992) Sankan-shion (Eiichi Saito, 1992) Kumo-no-Namiji (Shogo Yoshii, 2008) O-daiko (arranged by KODO) Yatai-bayashi (Traditional, arranged by KODO)

 

Zoku   ‘Zoku’ means tribe, family or clan. In this case, the tribe is the group of people who have come together to play the drums. When you hear the rhythms, your body will start to move on its own, perhaps reflecting a primal stirring within the subconscious.

 

Tobira   I longed to see a world beyond this one, so I searched for the door or ‘Tobira,’ that would take me there. Until I open the door, I have no idea what awaits me on the other side. In this piece, each beat is filled with the spirit of the drummers as they imagine embarking into an unknown world.

 

Miyake  The six drummers take to the stage and perform ‘Miyake,’ the name of one of the seven volcanic islands of Izu – in the southern sea of Tokyo - that has a festival centered on this very unique style of drumming. The drums are set very low to the ground, requiring a strenuous stance, and the men drum with relentless power, like ocean waves beating upon the island shore.

 

Tamayura no Michi   ‘Tamayura’ refers to dew resting on blades of grass. Beautiful yet fragile, it seems to speak of life itself. ‘Tamayura no Michi’-- meaning ‘dew road’̶speaks of our journey through life, shining softly like the fleeting morning dew.

 

Monochrome   Weaving constant rhythmic patterns together with highly irregular ones, Monochrome develops spirally to an exciting climax. The listener might interpret the sounds as those of the changing of the seasons, or perhaps even the progression of life itself. The ambitious pace expands greatly the range and power of expression of the roped shime-daiko.

 

Koi-koi Fusha   When this trio wanders into the spotlight, fun is bound to unfold.

 

Jang-Gwara   Small metal cymbals are found in a region that runs from the Near East, through the Middle East to Asia, coming to Japan in the early days of Buddhism as religious instruments. Today, they are known as ‘jangara,’ ‘chappa,’ and ‘tebira,’ and are used everywhere for accompaniment at festivals. In this piece, players use various techniques to show the range of rhythms and sounds that can be produced by this ancient instrument.

 

Sankan-shion   Sankan-shion, meaning ‘three cold days, four warm days’, refers to a period towards the end of winter when this recurring pattern is said to occur. Through the long severe winter, Sado is surrounded by heavy grey seas and threatening skies that make spring seem a long way.  So, at this time, although they can still hear the whistling winter winds, the people of Sado begin to pray that spring really is just around the corner. Embodying that hope, this piece is played on the powerful miya-daiko.

 

Kumo-no-Namiji  Kumo-no Namiji literally means "sea route through the clouds", referring to a chain of white clouds that resembles the wake of a boat. This song was modeled on "Kiyari Uta," a work song for hauling large trees and rocks. It was not only sung to keep workers in time and to fire up team spirit, but also as a way of calling out to the nature around them. Different versions of the song still exist in several parts of Japan. Kumo-no Namiji expresses the Japanese people's deep-rooted sense of reverence towards nature, and a hope that the sound will linger in the sky like a path through the clouds.

 

O-daiko  This great drum, carved from a single tree, measures about 4 feet across and produces intense sounds that possess a deep tranquility. Lose yourself in the vibrations created when the power of the ancient drum and the pure drive of the drummer become one.

 

Yatai-bayashi  Every year on December 3rd in Chichibu, Saitama Prefecture, an all night festival is held featuring richly decorated two story‘yatai’ (carts) pulled from village to village. The people hauling the yatai are urged on by the powerful beating of the taiko, concealed in the cramped first story of the carts. This gave rise to a technique of drumming while seated. KODO version of the traditional Yataibayashi is played at a faster tempo, giving it a unique and fervent flavor.

 

KODO

Sunday, February 8, 2009, 7:30PM

Walt Disney Concert Hall

www.laphil.com   (323) 850-2000