Tsuzumi

“Kodo One Earth Tour: Tsuzumi” is our latest touring production. It’s a commemorative work that we created to celebrate our 40th anniversary this year. This performance was captured in high-definition video and audio, then reconfigured into three parts especially for digital streaming. It’s available to watch on demand on Vimeo until the end of September 2021.

Watch on Vimeo

Note: The full performance is available on DVD from Kodo Online Store.

Director

Yuichiro Funabashi (Kodo)

Featured Pieces

[Part 1] Dyu-ha / Kono Mine no / Ayumi

[Part 2] Hitohi / Hayate / Monochrome

[Part 3] Izumogaku / O-daiko / Yatai-bayashi / Tomorrow

Recorded

Jan. 19–22, 2021, at Ryotsu Culture Hall, Sado Island, Niigata

Available on Demand

Apr. 28 (Wed)–Sep. 30 (Thu), 2021

Price

480 yen per part (one-week rental)

Streaming Platform

Vimeo

Length

Part 1: 22 mins. / Part 2: 26 mins. / Part 3: 31 mins.

Watch on Vimeo

Programme

Part 1

Part 1 begins with “Dyu-Ha,” created by the late Maki Ishii, a modern composer who presented this piece to Kodo as a gift to congratulate the ensemble on its debut in 1981. Next, embark on a virtual trip to Sado Island through the imagery conjured by “Kono Mine no.” Then, join Kodo’s 40th anniversary celebrations with festive “Ayumi,” a new piece composed to mark this special milestone in the group’s history.

Dyu-Ha | Composed by Maki Ishii (1981)
Kono Mine no | Lyrics and music by Yoko Fujimoto (2003)
Ayumi | Composed by Yuta Sumiyoshi (2020)

Part 2

Part 2 begins with two pieces composed by Kodo’s newest generation. The first is “Hitohi,” a festive piece inspired by the traditional performing arts upheld on Sado Island. Next is “Hayate,” a new piece filled with invigorating energy, like a strong gust of wind. This part concludes with one of Kodo’s signature pieces, “Monochrome,” which was created in 1976 by the late Maki Ishii, a modern composer. It’s a timeless masterpiece that boldly explores the vast possibilities of taiko.

Hitohi | Composed by Masayasu Maeda, dance arranged by Koki Miura (2019)
Hayate | Composed by Ryotaro Leo Ikenaga (2020)
Monochrome | Composed by Maki Ishii (1976)

Part 3

Part 3 begins with an ethereal ryuteki flute solo in ”Izumogaku,” followed by two Kodo classics: the big drum solo, “O-daiko,” and a festive feat of stamina, “Yatai-bayashi.” The finale is the stage performance’s encore number, “Tomorrow.” This uplifting piece was composed to cheer people on in the wake of the 2011 Tohoku Earthquake.

Izumogaku | Traditional, arranged by Kodo
O-daiko | Traditional, arranged by Kodo and Mitsuru Ishizuka
Yatai-bayashi | Traditional, arranged by Kodo
Tomorrow | Composed by Mitsuru Ishizuka (2011)

Watch on Vimeo