Collegiate Taiko Showcase

Date: Sunday, May 26th, 2019

Time: 4:30 PM - 6:00 PM

Location: Dinkelspiel Auditorium [Google Maps]

Tickets: https://events.stanford.edu/events/831/83120/

This is the second concert of a two-part concert series, featuring many of the collegiate groups here at ITI this year. As each collegiate group brings to ITI a different and unique approach to taiko, we are thrilled to celebrate together the vivid spirit of the West Coast collegiate taiko community!

Kokyū (prelude) and Piru Bole

Performers: CalArts Hinotani Taiko (California Institute of the Arts)

Description: Kokyu, meaning "breath", is a short prelude that explores the sounds of breathing and breathing in an abstract, musical sense.

Written by John Bergamo, Piru Bole is a hand drum composition inspired by East Indian tabla drumming. Although it is base on East Indian drumming concepts it is non traditional but rather more in line with some of the experiments happening with non-traditional percussion ensemble throughout India.

Honen Daiko

Performers: Ahiru Daiko (University of Oregon)

Description: Honen Daiko, originating from Nanao City, Ishikawa Prefecture, Japan, is a piece played for a bountiful harvest. Our rendition replicates the sound of rainfall, starting from single droplets that grow into a powerful downpour.

Ranbu

Performers: Touzan Taiko (Cal Poly Pomona)

Description: Meaning "wild dance", "Ranbu" is full of wild movements and complex patterns that five off an energetic atmosphere. In this song, the performers get playful and silly with their unpredictable patterns and choreography. This upbeat swing song played in the Nidan style will surely have the audience engaged and entertained by the enthusiasm and spirit of the performers.

Tanoshii Ame

Performers: Cal Raijin Taiko (University of California, Berkeley)

Description: Inspired by Berkeley's weather and composer Brandon Yanari's personal love of rainy days, this piece portrays rain as something more than its common depiction of dreariness. As the song progresses, the performers begin to play with the rain and enjoy its raindrop rhythm, showing that wet weather can be fun!

Shinshi

Performers: Jishin Taiko (California State University, Northridge)

Description: Shinshi (真摯 ) is an original piece composed by former Kodo member Shunichiro Kamiya 神谷俊一路 . With the drastic decrease of members in our group after the 2018 ITI at UC Riverside, our repertoire of playable songs shrank as we did not have enough members to perform most of our pieces. As such, Shunichiro composed this piece to be performed with a minimum of 4 performers, and can be arranged accordingly to accommodate more players. Shinshi (真摯 ) is a Japanese word that translates to earnestness or sincerity, and this piece was named such to reflect his idea of taiko: to hit each and every hit on the taiko with sincerity, to work together with people with earnestness, and to perform any task with a pure and calm mind.

Awakening

Performers: Asayake Taiko (University of California, San Diego)

Description: “Awakening” features a change in spirit between players that culminates to a peak at the end of the song. It showcases the dynamic of personal interactions to present an energetic environment awakened by teamwork and harmony.

Roundabout

Performers: Bakuhatsu Taiko Dan (University of California, Davis)

Description: "Honestly I had absolutely no idea what to name this song. I had nicknamed it 'Ho-Down' when I was writing it because I wanted the song to embody the feeling of a family coming together for a homecoming reunion, filled with excitement, energy, and laughter. But as the song continued to develop and my time in Bakuhatsu draws to an end, I became very reflective of my undergrad years. From entering taiko as a freshman, to mentorship, leadership, and ultimately my last ITI as an undergrad in Bakuhatsu, the collegiate taiko community has helped develop who I am as a performer and as an individual. To the people I've met, the knowledge I've gained, and the unforgettable inspiration and memories I've experienced, this song is a showcase of what Bakuhatsu and the collegiate taiko community means to me: a place that no matter where you are in your life, you can always turn back to and smile." - Braden Wong

Seasons

Performers: Senryu Taiko (University of California, Riverside)

Description: The changing of the seasons has symbolic relevance in many cultures. The convoluted cycle of beginning and end is a fundamental truth we must accept in life. Featuring motifs from Senryu Taiko's other original compositions, the nature of the changing seasons is explored, embracing the concept of renewal.

Itsuka and Jack Bazaar

Performers: Yukai Daiko (University of California, Los Angeles)

Description: Itsuka, which means “someday,” is singular in Yukai’s repertoire for its incorporation of dance, relatively few hits to the drum and unique base beat. Michelle Fuji, who helped found Yukai and is currently Co-director of Unit Souzou, wrote the song to reflect her experiences learning traditional Japanese folk dance in Japan.

Jack Bazaar was inspired by the angled drumming style of Tokyo festival music, and combines diverse movement and rhythmic phrases developed over a three-year period of choreographic experimentation. The piece is released by the composer under a “copyleft ” license meant to encourage its sharing and reuse.

Yonsei

Performers: Kyodo Taiko (University of California, Los Angeles)

Description: Yonsei is a song about generations. As the fourth generation of Japanese Americans, Yonsei struggle to find their place within the larger JA community, in the same way that we as taiko players struggle to define our own generation's contribution. The mark that we leave is not defined by any one person or group, but by the ever-growing and ever-diversifying community. Written in 2005, Yonsei blends traditional rhythms with a more contemporary style that emphasizes individual creativity and showmanship, and has become one of Kyodo's signature songs.

Jam

Performers: Jodaiko (University of California, Irvine)

Description: "Jam," a big-band style rhythm piece, is a product of inspiration Jodaiko felt after the second Annual Intercollegiate Taiko Invitational.

Tatsumaki

Performers: Stanford Taiko (Stanford University)

Description: “Tatsumaki,” which means whirlwind in Japanese, is one of Stanford Taiko’s oldest pieces, and it has been passed down to and built upon by each of the group’s generations. True to its name, the piece evokes the power of swirling winds in a storm, featuring striking movements and electrifying energy. As this energy has connected together the past and present iterations of our group, so too do we hope that it will continue to carry the Stanford Taiko spirit into the future.

Finale: Jamboree

Composed by Vianna Vo and Obed De La Cruz

Description: A jamboree represents a festive gathering, akin to how ITI represents a time to come together, share experiences, and foster relationships. It is our hope that you find this spirit kindled in Jamboree. We look forward to playing alongside you as we celebrate 25 years.