Kodō (鼓童?) is a professional taiko drumming troupe. Based on Sado Island , Japan ,
they have had a role in popularizing taiko drumming, both in Japan and
abroad. They regularly tour Japan ,
Europe, and the United
States .
Although the main focus of the performance
is taiko drumming, other traditional Japanese musical instruments such as fue
and shamisen make an appearance on stage as do traditional dance and vocal
performance. Kodo's performance include pieces based on the traditional rhythms
of regional Japan, pieces composed for Kodo by contemporary songwriters, and
pieces written by Kodo members themselves. The numbers that Kodo perform can
change from concert to concert. Kodo's performance normally lasts for about one
hour and forty minutes.
In Japanese the word "Kodo"
conveys two meanings: "heartbeat" the primal source of all rhythm
and, read in a different way, the word can mean "children of the drum,"
a reflection of Kodo's desire to play their drums simply, with the heart of a
child.
Kodo strives to both preserve and
re-interpret traditional Japanese performing arts. From worldwide tours and
research trips, Kodo brings back to Sado world music and experiences which now
exert a strong influence on the group's performances and compositions. They
also collaborate with other artists and composers.
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