Taiko Drums

For many years I have had an interest in Taiko, the Japanese art of drumming. The literal translation of the word taiko from the Japanese means "big drum." So when you hear someone refer to taiko drums, if taken literally they are actually saying, "big drum drums." Taiko is the generic term and is used when referring to the style of drumming.

I don't know if it's the sound they create or whether it is my amazement at the player's discipline, precision and stamina. Probably a mixture of all of the above.

Japanese taiko drums are perhaps some of the most dramatic percussion instruments ever created. Originally used in both Japanese folk and classical musical traditions, taiko drumming has moved with the times and evolved into a modern art form called kumi-daiko, which refers to ensemble taiko drumming. Exhibitions of kumi-daiko can include taiko of all different shapes, sizes, and pitches. Anywhere from one to dozens of performers use sticks called "bachi" to strike the instruments.

Drum music can be moving in the extreme. It is vital, powerful and speaks to our most basic instincts. Perhaps this is because the purpose of drum music is, in essence, to provide a beat that can be heard by everyone. The beat unites the listeners, puts them all in the same time and space, and creates a bond between them. Given its abilities, it is unsurprising that the drum is one of the most pervasive instruments in the world, found in cultures across every continent on the planet. And even less surprising is the fact that many cultures, at one time or another, have applied the energy of the drum to religion and its ceremonies.