Somei Yoshino Taiko Ensemble, a drumming foursome based in San Francisco, will be making a stop tonight in Eugene during its Northwest tour. The performance will be hosted by the Cultural Forum.
Taiko, which means “great drum” in Japanese, is an art form of Japanese drumming. The ensemble tries to blend other art forms into their shows and in the past has worked with musicians, dancers and vocalists. SYTE incorporates rhythms, woodwinds, strings, costumes, theatrical sets, lighting and dance into its performances.
The group was formed in 1999 when Bruce “Mui” Ghent assembled students of Grand Master Seiichi Tanaka. The ensemble is made up of Naoko Amemiya, Ellen Reiko Bepp, Hiroyuki Jimi Nakagawa and Kallan Yoichi Nishimoto. Modern taiko was invented by Daihachi Oguchi in the early 1950s.
According to the SYTE Web site, “Taiko is more than just a musical instrument and it involves more than just striking a drum skin. It is an art and a fusion of movement, rhythm, philosophy and form whose history has been an important part of the everyday lives of the Japanese people. The idea of becoming one with the drum is a fundamental part of taiko. Playing taiko also has much to do with expressing and freeing the spirit of taiko.”
SYTE will perform in the EMU Ballroom; doors open at 7:30 p.m. Tickets, available through the EMU Ticket Office, are $6.50 for students and $12 for the general public.