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A single small drum sounds and quick 'sticking' sets the tempo.  Two others join in - then two more.  The six drummers strike precisely as one as they raise sticks high to harness the energy.  Last Wednesday March 10^th, Shidara, a taiko group from the remote village of Toei-cho in Japan, came to the Lied Center at KU and blew the audience away with a high powered and masterful percussion performance that thrilled and engaged.

Taiko simply means "drum" in Japanese.  Although its roots can be traced to ancient court music, the modern communal taiko ensembles came about in the late 1950's. Living and working together in a Dojo-like community in the country, the musicians are free to focus on their art form. They begin each day with a run through the forest followed by breakfast and drumming drills.  Like Olympic athletes they are in top physical condition and are able to play flawlessly for long periods of time. 

Last year I had the opportunity to participate in a taiko workshop through the KU Center for East Asian Studies.  We learned that the Japanese Shinto religion that influences the way the drummers approach their music.  We learned the circular stick stroke and how to harness momentum by lunging into the instrument.  Shidara uses all of these techniques to awaken the energy within their drums.  Students in the Lawrence Public Schools also had a chance to meet the ensemble and learn about their musical lives.

On stage, the backdrop was a series of vertical banners that when seen at a distance depicted a traditional painting of mountains.  Japanese character banners hung in front of those and were highlighted at different times during the production.  The assorted drums were rolled on and off stage as needed, making this production extremely efficient.  

The women in the ensemble all wore identical costumes with high ponytails that snapped and bounced, accenting the rhythms.  The men wore baggy pants and shirts that showcased the musculature of their arms and backs.

All but one piece on the program was written by the leader of the ensemble, Chabo.   Inspired by nature and using the drums to mimic rain, rivers and Shakuhachi flutes, Chabo created powerful and poignant sonic soundscapes. 

Some of the pieces tell stories with props or choreography while others had a hypnotic effect with the wall of sound.  The Lion and the Farmer was a big hit. The traditional puppy-like lion is played by two people under a sheet with the first one operating the "head."  Crashing its teeth, blinking its eyes and wiggling and scratching its ears, the lion was both aggressive and adorable.  An old farmer pantomimes his attempt to hoe the ground and ends up mercilessly teasing the lion before he is bit on his 'behind.'  The players ran through the Lied Center, engaging the audience in their hilarious antics to the great delight of all in attendance.

The members of Shidara also treated us to a revival of a 700-year-old harvest festival from their village.  The audience was invited to sing and dance in the aisles with the group and they did.  Uninhibited college students eagerly waved and cheered as the group brought their amazing drums into the hall - drum sticks a-blur.

The high energy engagement of Shidara along with their jaw dropping athleticism and commitment to their art, makes this tour a must see.  And don't be afraid to have a few cups of coffee before you come, you'll need the energy for the show.

REVIEW:
Lied Center at KU
Shidara: The Heart of the Immortal Mountain
Wednesday March 10^th 2010
Lied Center
1600 Stewart Drive, Lawrence, KS
www.lied.ku.edu

By Megan Browne Helm

Classical, Vocal and Theatre Contributor

Megan Browne Helm grew up singing, dancing and acting.  Inspired by Emma Kirkby as a high school student in St. Louis she went on to study voice and sing with the Collegium Musicum at the Oberlin Conservatory in Ohio where she also had a radio show of contemporary classical music on WOBC.  At the University of Kansas she had the pleasure of working with former Kings’ Singer, Simon Carrington in his Collegium Musicum and Oread consort. Years later, she was a choral fellow at the Yale School of Music’s  Norfolk Chamber Music Festival.  She is currently singing with the Kansas City Symphony Chorus under the direction of Charles Bruffy. 

 As a freelance music and culture writer her work can be found on KCMetropolis.org, presentmagazine.com, the Lawrence Journal World, Shawnee Magazine, Leawood Lifestyle Magazine and KC Parent.  She was one of 26 journalists in the country chosen as a NEA Institute Fellow for Classical Music and Opera at the Columbia University Graduate School of Journalism. 

Her current interest is how classical music remains relevant through active collaborations with artists in different fields, including science.  She also sees a connection between classical music, travel and food as a way to engage all of the senses in a 360 degree cultural experience.  She blogs at raworganum.wordpress.com.