Yodan/Many Sides Analysis: "Don Zu Don Zu Don" vs "Don Su Don Ko Don"2011.12.25 Sunday
These pieces are a lot more difficult than it seems. The first video is Oedo Sukeroku Daiko playing "Yodan" and the second is Taiko Project playing "Many Sides." For the record, they're different pieces but quite similar.
One of the key elements of these pieces is using movement to create a visualization of the rests and spaces between notes. In other words, the good players make sure the audience can "see" the exact durations of rests and spaces in the music. This is actually a lot more difficult than it sounds.
From my experience, the reason a lot of people aren't able to do this is because they learn the basic rhythm as "Don Zu Don Zu Don." It's a cool rhythm but doesn't have the same effect as "Don Su Don Ko Don" and it's a pretty significant difference.
The biggest difference is that there's no rest in "Don Zu Don Zu Don." If there's no rest, you can't create a visual representation of the rest with your movement. I think it's crucial to create that split second where you have both arms fully extended horizontally to be able to visualize the "Su." You can clearly see this in the Taiko Project video around 2:13.
If you learned it "Don Zu Don Zu Don" try singing it the other way when you play and it will feel totally different. If you learned it "Don Su Don Ko Don" try "Don Zu Don Zu Don" because there are going to be times when you want that particular feeling.
Another key element of this piece is the cross movement between drums. It's really difficult to maintain a steady volume with all the movement going on, and it's especially difficult during the fast crosses between drums.
A lot of intermediate players will over-stress the first note of the cross, and play "DON zu don ko don" which isn't wrong, but just not as hip as playing all the notes strong.
This piece looks improvised but each player's "solo" is almost all predetermined. To me, pure improvisation is not really the beauty of this piece. It's more about refining the sound as a team effort.
Yodan is a piece I grew up with, and although I haven't played it in over 10 years due to... um, well, political reasons, it's still a piece that is quite dear to me. For those of you that have an opportunity to play Yodan, I hope you enjoy it!
If you're looking for a taiko drummer in Boston, MA please check out the renewed Isaku Kageyama website: http://www.isakukageyama.com
Last week I did a 2-hour workshop at Berklee College of Music on traditional Japanese music with singers Ayumi Ueda and Sumie Kaneko. Sumie also plays koto and shamisen and we were able to play a few folk songs. Taiko, shamisen, koto, and singing make a real good combination which I hope you will have the opportunity to enjoy.
This kind of thing would be really good for schools and educational institutions looking to enrich their arts and music programs with cultural workshops and demonstrations.
I also play in a project called Rhythm of the Universe which gathers some great musicians from over 90 countries. We've had the opportunity to write and perform songs for earthquake victims in Japan, and more recently in Turkey.
If you're planning a convention that promotes multi-culturalism and understanding in Boston, this is THE group you want.
I'll be in Boston at Berklee College of Music for the next few years, and I hope we have an opportunity to work together. Thank you always, Isaku Kageyama
I made an appearance on the Tokyo Podcast, where we talked a little about the future of Hogaku (traditional Japanese music). There are a lot of positive aspects to how Hogaku is taught, but there are some aspects that don't work - especially in taiko.
We talk about how the system for learning Hogaku doesn't encourage several musicians working together (because Hogaku wasn't meant to be a band), which is becoming an increasingly important skill in the 21st century.
Instead of studying with one master until the master's retirement, moving abroad to study music overseas might be an alternate path for up-and-coming Hogaku musicians.