The traditional Taiko drum has a long history in Japan. Split into two varieties, the byou-uchi daiko and the tsukeshime-daiko, the taiko drum is an instrument used in traditional and modern Japanese music. The drums have a new renewal of interest in the young generation as the video game, Taiko Drum Master for the Nintendo Wii system has topped the charts in Japan. The game debuted first as an arcade game, where the controller was a mock up of a taiko drum. Players would play the music, trying to match beat with those shown on the screen. The Wii version of the game features a unique, Taiko drum controller which plugs into the Wii controller.

The two variations of taiko drum both feature a single piece wooden body. The tsukeshime-daiko has the drum heads sewn to an iron ring, and attached to the body via taught cords linking the two sides. The tone can be tuned through tightening the cords. Conversely, the byou-uchi daiko has the two head attached via iron nails. Both versions are featured in a number of sizes, producing a large variety of sounds and tones.

The one most defining form of taiko drum is the odaiko. These massive drums are sometimes 7 to 10 feet in hight, and so massive that they are typically not moved, and rather a temple built around the drum. Their bodies are still made up of only a single piece of wood, having been harvested from a similarly large tree, ones over a hundred years old. Just as massive are this drums is the impact that they have over audiences observing their sound.

The first modern taiko drum ensemble is credited as being formed by Daihachi Oguchi in 1951. He started to add a form of jazz flare to his ensemble's drumming, which took very well ad led him to be known for his varied jazz performances. Since his forming of the taiko ensemble, many others were formed, including the world renowned group Kodo. Formed in 1981 by various members of the group Ondekoza. The group now consists of 24 drummers, and has released 22 albums and played in nearly 3000 performances across the globe. Since the 60s, the Taiko drum had been gaining popularity in the US, with a number of groups being formed by post world war immigrants from Japan. In Japan too, many artists of today, including Art Lee and Shidara. The powerful rhythmic elements of the drums lend themselves to many modern treatments and stylings.

Thanks to the advent of Taiko Drum Master for the Wii, one can hope that interest for the instrument has been inspired in the younger generation. The renewed enthusiasm kindled by the overwhelming interest in the game in Japan is hoped to be shared in other countries with the game's future foreign debut. From the cultural history of Japan to the latest in technological playgrounds, the taiko drums heavy impact will hopefully live on for quite a while.

Originally posted 2009-01-13 05:42:41. Republished by Blog Post Promoter

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Musical Instruments Drum, Types of Drums

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arcade game, byou, daiko, drummers, flare, iron nails, iron ring, japanese music, jazz performances, nintendo wii, odaiko, oguchi, renowned group, taiko drum ensemble, taiko ensemble, traditional taiko, video game, wii, wii controller, young generation