Japanese Drums

by Tomoe-Ryu Yutakadaiko

Overview

A nice album of basic taiko music. The playing, done by a collection of high school students, doesn't come near the complexity of some of the supergroups (such as Kodo), but at the same time pulls no punches. The compositions are largely traditional, and generally not overly complex. This is festival music at its purest, basest level. Pounding drums are the key to everything, riling up the crowds and interlocking rhythms to create a full texture. The kids playing are entirely capable, and add in a handful of related instruments not often heard with the taiko ensemble. The flutes of course are omnipresent in much festival music, but the conch shell (or some relative) is an interesting addition. Taiko groups run the range from the uber-eclectic and forward thinking (again, such as Kodo) to the purely traditional, somewhat more subdued outfits (such as Soh Daiko). This group, with its revolving roster, hits somewhere in the middle, playing traditional music but eschewing the more formal repertoire in favor of something with a good thick groove built in. Worth a listen as a basic primer on the drum ensemble, but venture further afield if it piques your interest. ~ Adam Greenberg

Product Details

Release Date:	02/13/2007
Label:	Musicrama Distribution
UPC:	0743037204521
Rank:	163462

Tracks

1. Sairei  - Tomoe-Ryu Yutakadaiko
2. Onibi  - Tomoe-Ryu Yutakadaiko
3. Karyu  - Tomoe-Ryu Yutakadaiko
4. Daiko  - Tomoe-Ryu Yutakadaiko
5. Bayashi  - Tomoe-Ryu Yutakadaiko
6. Bayashi  - Tomoe-Ryu Yutakadaiko
7. Kaikyo  - Tomoe-Ryu Yutakadaiko
8. Odori  - Tomoe-Ryu Yutakadaiko
9. Horyo  - Tomoe-Ryu Yutakadaiko

Album Credits

Performance Credits

Tomoe-Ryu Yutakadaiko   Primary Artist,Percussion Ensemble
Yukiko Makino   Shinobue
Ayumi Goto   Taiko Drums
Maho Miyazawa   Taiko Drums
Ayaka Suzuki   Taiko Drums
Namiko Toyama   Taiko Drums
Misaki Kabeya   Taiko Drums
Chie Ito   Shinobue
Hirotaka Koizumi   Taiko Drums
Misae Mori   Taiko Drums
Hitomi Umehara   Taiko Drums
Akane Ito   Cymbals
Akane Makino   Taiko Drums
Yuko Maeda   Taiko Drums
Narumi Koizumi   Taiko Drums
Maki Yamamoto   Taiko Drums
Emiko Makiuchi   Cymbals
Keiko Ebina   Taiko Drums
Eriko Takaya   Shinobue
Mika Suzuki   Taiko Drums
Mei Iwase   Gong
Ai Yamada   Gong
Miki Yagi   Taiko Drums
Chieko Morita   Taiko Drums
Ayaka Senga   Taiko Drums
Noriyo Kobayashi   Taiko Drums
Akemi Okazaki   Taiko Drums
Mami Furui   Taiko Drums
Emiko Samejima   Cymbals
Kozo Watanabe   Director

Technical Credits

Guy Tourville   Audio Engineer,Audio Production,Mixing,Engineer,Producer
Alex Stokes   Cover Design
Kozo Watanabe   Liner Notes
Hitomi Sugiura   Liner Notes,Photography,Interpretation
Jean-Luc DeBellefeuille   Assistant Engineer
Diz Heller   Mastering,Photography,Liner Notes
Barbara Papadopoulos   Layout Design,Typesetting
Aya Sakakibara   Interpretation