Reduction 7
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Reduction 7 The Ginten Legacy Dec 07, 2019
Taiko Legacy 16 Dec 08 2019
Workshop Dec 08 2019
Taiko, a Japanese drum, is typically heard at seasonal festivals and temples all throughout Japan. At the core of Tsukasa Taiko's artistic and musical vernacular is a more esoteric and theatrical expression of Taiko that is a less frequented and more difficult endeavor with a speculative destination. Notable companions on this journey will include percussionist, actress, poet, and screenwriter Coco Elysses; percussionist and winner of Black Women in Jazz Awards 2014 Best Black Female Percussionist of the Year JoVia Armstrong; and, direct from France, special guest drummer and improviser Yuko Oshima.
Reduction is a refined response to the popularity of mainstream taiko drumming, a trend which sees taiko stripped of its particular musical and theatrical elements. This year's presentation features unreleased materials from Gintenkai in Tokyo, the original taiko theater, ranging from traditional to modern interpretations of taiko music as an artistic venture. Classical masters Hyakkyou Fukuhara (flute/percussion), Chizuru Kineya (shamisen), and Shijuro Tachibana (kabuki dance) lend their deftness to the evening's presentation.
Taiko Legacy is one of the largest taiko drumming concerts in the Midwest. This perennial presentation reunites professional contemporary and classical performers alongside enduring community members to celebrate over two decades of artist-directed performance.
The multigenerational ensemble, Tsukasa Taiko, anchors the traditional musical relationship between shamisen, dance, and taiko. The often-overlooked melodic capacity of the taiko is unattainable without a thorough awareness of the origins and craft of the traditional Japanese music. This ensemble performance explores the concept using original compositions and arrangements rooted in a broad range of musical styles including: ozashiki (geisha chamber music), minyo (folk music), ohayashi (classical/folk/theater music), and matsuri taiko (festival taiko music).
This year's featured guests include San Francisco's Melody Takata, the Gen Ryu Arts, and three classical music grandmasters from Japan: Chizuru Kineya, Hyakkyou Fukuhara, and Shijuro Tachibana.
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