Research Triangle Park, N.C.
The National Humanities Center will host a concert of Japanese drumming by Triangle Taiko at 7:30 p.m. on Friday, March 3, 2006.

Taiko is a high-energy tradition of drumming that originated in Japan but is now popular all over the world. Combining music and movements drawn from the martial arts, taiko is exciting to watch and exhilarating to play. "Taiko" means large drum, and the sound and sight of a taiko ensemble is hard to forget.

Triangle Taiko is the only taiko ensemble in North Carolina, though there are about 150 taiko groups in North America. Formed in 2002, Triangle Taiko is under The Nippon Club of the Triangle and is an all-volunteer group dedicated to the exploration and performance of taiko. It celebrates diversity and welcomes members who wish to do so as well. It emphasizes team effort and learning, practicing, and playing taiko as a means to bring people together. Triangle Taiko's motto is "sharing the spirit of taiko with the world" and promotes cultural exchange between Japanese and Americans through taiko. Strongly community-based, Triangle Taiko performs all over the state in Japanese, Asian American, and multicultural events.

The concert will include traditional and contemporary works, including "Matsuri," a traditional festival piece; "Tenkoro," an arrangement of music used for boat races in Kyoto; and "Yatai," famous for the demands of strength and endurance it places on the drummers, who sit under the taiko and strike it from below with large drum sticks. The group will also perform "Korekara," featuring distinctively American syncopated rhythms combined with Japanese festival dance movements. Written only six months ago, "Korekara" represents the inclusive contemporary spirit of Japanese American and North American taiko.

This performance is free and open to the public. Children are welcome. Seating is limited, so arrive early. Parking is free.

Lectures, concerts, art exhibits, and other cultural events at the National Humanities Center are sponsored by the North Carolina GlaxoSmithKline Educational and Cultural Outreach Endowment Fund.

See www.triangletaiko.org for more information about Triangle Taiko.

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