Monday, June 27, 2011
Thank you!!
This is a photo of Makoto Taiko minutes before the doors opened for people to enter Thorne Hall. We were full of nervousness, adrenaline and excitement. I don't think any of us could really predict how many people were going to come. And surprise, surprise: it was a full house! Wow!!
Congratulations to everyone in Makoto Taiko! Many thanks to the wonderful volunteers who fed us, manned the reception desks, distributed tickets, sold merchandise, made and set up signs, basically saved the world, etc. Also, thank you to the staff and crew at Thorne Hall! Their spot-on lighting cues helped create the most professional concert we've ever had.
We are already receiving lots of performance requests for the rest of the year. Look for us at the World Festival of Sacred Music coming this October!
Friday, June 24, 2011
Feel the Thunder
Feel the Thunder
by
Tim Callahan
Feel the thunder of the drums!
Feel the thunder of the taiko drums!
Pounding!
Resounding!
Pounding and resounding!
Pounding and pounding
like a giant’s heartbeat,
like a giant’s heartbeat,
resounding in your chest!
See the drummers gesture,
as they strike their postures
Hear the cry
of the drummers
as they chant.
See the lightning
flashing like a saber,
flashing like a saber
as it rips through the sky!
Hear the lightning crackle
crackle as its fury
echoes through the sky.
Feel its white-hot fury
As it sears the earth!
Then feel the thunder
that rumbles through the hillsides!
Feel the thunder,
pounding like a hammer!
Feel the thunder hammer
like a titan’s heartbeat!
Feel the thunder hammer!
Feel the thunder hammer
As it shakes the earth!
Who is the Drummer
who thunders like a hammer?
Yours is not to question:
You’ll never get an answer.
Yours is but to savor
the power of the hammer:
Pounding!
Resounding!
Pounding and resounding
as it thunders through the sky!
So feel the thunder of the drum!
Feel the thunder of the cosmic drum!Wednesday, June 22, 2011
Three Days till...!!!
Ok folks, it's coming down to crunch time for Makoto Taiko! We are wrapping up with concert practices and rehearsals this week.
This Saturday, we are having our annual taiko concert at Thorne Hall in Occidental College. We will not only present our fantastic repertoire of modern and traditional taiko pieces, we have a NEW PIECE in the works by our very own taiko master, Koji Nakamura, Revelation. It will debut officially at our annual concert this Saturday. Don't miss this incredible moment!
One more exciting bit of news! We have finally, finally finished our new costume!! Thank you thank you to everyone who helped with this big project! This was no small feat--Makoto Taiko is now approximately 49 members strong. Forty-nine. Wow! We seem to be growing exponentially every year! It's a really great feeling when you can see all 49 members come together during a concert run-through...all these people from all stages of life, and forms of thought and belief, assembling for a common passion: Taiko.
So make sure to mark this down on your calendar:
SATURDAY, June 25
6:00pm (doors open at 5:30pm)
Thorne Hall
Occidental College
1600 Campus Rd. Los Angeles 90041
FREE ADMISSION
Donations gratefully accepted for the continued maintenance of our wonderful drums and the purchase of even better instruments.