Drummers raise a storm of applause in Doha Qatar

Drummers raise a storm of applause in Doha Qatar

In mesmeric performances that will remain etched in the memories of the audiences forever, the internationally-acclaimed Japanese Taiko drummer Eitetsu Hayashi and his troupe marked their Middle East premiere in Doha.
 
The concerts, ‘Taiko Legend – Heart Beat from Japan’, on Wednesday and yesterday at Katara Drama Theatre saw the spellbound audiences rising to honour the artistes with standing ovations on a number of occasions.
 
Hayashi, 60, who has been performing across the world for over four decades, electrified the stage with Japanese flute player Makoto Takei and four of the top young taiko drummers from the Fu-Un no Kai team – Shuichiro Ueda, Mikita Hase, Makoto Tashiro and Tasuku Tsuji.
 
The performances, a part of Qatar Japan 2012 - a celebration of 40 years of diplomatic relations between the countries - were hosted by the Japanese embassy, the Japan Foundation and Katara.
The 90-minute concerts began with the traditional ‘Ichiban Taiko/Chakuto’ or the first sound of the massive, 300kg O-Daiko (big drum), created by the master drummer, who was subsequently joined by Takei on his flute and the young drummers.
 
The prowess of Hayashi, credited with developing a unique and emotive O-Daiko solo style, which leaps beyond traditional Taiko drum performances in technique, physical stamina and expressive range, was very much evident right from the first beats that soon gave way to a medley of sounds spanning the full spectrum.
He moved on to the self-composed ‘Mitsumai’ (Three dances), along with Takei, to a set of smaller drums (Shimedaiko), arranged in similar fashion like jazz drums but played in a totally different style, and created folk festive music.
 
The tempo quickened with the next two pieces - ‘Umino Hojo’ (Abundance of the Ocean) composed by Hayashi and ‘Tension’ a creation by Hase – which left the audiences in a trance.
The maestro, on his big drum, was joined by the four young drummers for ‘Umino Hojo’ who pounded five drums - set in a straight line - with acrobatic movements, creating a visually stunning performance as well.
The drums were the symbols of small islands across the Setonaikai inland sea and the drummers as the bridges across the islands or as the people who inhabit them.
 
‘Tension,’ which featured the four young drummers, produced a whole gamut of percussion sounds, ranging from the faintest murmur to lightning fast beats to the accompaniment of rhythmic and graceful movements.
A mellifluous flute solo by Takei followed, the soothing, tranquil music calming the racing heart beats of the audiences, a result of the two previous pieces.
 
By then it was time for the final piece, ‘Mio no Hasu Suite’ (A lotus flower along the water channel), featuring Hayashi and the Fu-Un no Kai.
 
With the life story of Takumi Asakawa, a forestry scholar from the period of Japanese colonisation of Korea as the theme, it was made up of independent pieces.
The Japanese ambassador Kenjiro Monji and Hayashi gave brief remarks.

Source from GulfTimes