“Balancing a deadly aggression with utter tranquillity, Kodo’s sound stretches from the lightest of rainfall to cataclysmic thunderclaps, from silence to a wall of sound, as high, frightening and impregnable as a mountain.” The Guardian
Japan’s legendary Kodo drummers return to their roots with Legacy, a physically stunning and musically sensational show which puts their huge drums centre stage and reworks their treasure trove of signature pieces created across almost 40 years of international touring.
Taiko is a traditional Japanese drum and is the basis of a vibrant living art form. Drumming troupe Kodo, whose name means ‘heartbeat’, are its masters, catapulting ancient Japanese culture squarely into the 21st century. Since their formation in 1981, Kodo have given no fewer than 6,000 performances in 50 countries around the world. This new show Legacy combines some of their best-loved pieces and new work, which concentrates on the infinite possibilities of their sensational drumming.
Programme:
Part 1
Soyogi
Composed by Yuichiro Funabashi 2018
THE HUNTED
Composed by Motofumi Yamaguchi 1994
Okiage Ondo, Miyake
Traditional, arranged by Kodo
KIRINA’s Theme
Composed by Motofumi Yamaguchi 1994
Monochrome
Composed by Maki Ishii 1976
Part 2
Yukishiro
Composed by Ryotaro Leo Ikenaga 2018
Uchoten
Composed by Yuki Hirata 2019
HITOTSU
Composed by Yasukazu Kano 1992
O-daiko
Traditional, arranged by Kodo, Kenta Nakagome
Yatai-bayashi
Traditional, arranged by Kodo
The following pieces are based on these regional traditional performing arts:
Okiage Ondo: Nishinba Ondo (Shakotan, Hokkaido (formerly Bikuni Town))
Miyake: Kamitsuki Mikoshi Taiko (Miyake Island, Tokyo)