Yamato Drums of JapanJuly is a much awaited month for the numerous fans of Japanese culture in here because of the Philippines-Japan Friendship Month. This is the time when the Japan Foundation organizes a handful of events like film screenings, exhibits and concerts all aimed to promote Japanese culture to Filipinos. And as expected, the one event I was able to witness was the one that is music related: a live performance of the Yamato Drums of Japan.
The press release for the group's series of performances stated that they are actually composed of 17 members. But the group that I was able to catch during their performance at the Music Hall at the SM Mall of Asia only featured seven performers: three males and four females. But despite not fielding the entire crew, the Yamato gave a very engaging performance that night. The seven played the traditional wadaiko drums of Japan. And these drums come in different sizes thus having varied pitches. And characteristic of Asian percussion music, it is very dynamic and textured and has more variety compared to the use of percussion in Western music. Despite these drums being traditional, there were moments in the group's hour long performance that was quite edgy and humorous.
One of the guys in particular provided most of the humor especially when he urged the crowd to participate. His comic reactions delighted the crowd and he was no doubt the most popular member of the group judging from the adoring crowd wanting to take photos with him after the show.
My favorite number in the program was when the four women played the shamisen like they were rockstars playing the electric guitar. And this number provided some very much welcomed melodic element amidst all the banging of the drums.
*photo courtesy of Kenzo Machinokokoro
The press release for the group's series of performances stated that they are actually composed of 17 members. But the group that I was able to catch during their performance at the Music Hall at the SM Mall of Asia only featured seven performers: three males and four females. But despite not fielding the entire crew, the Yamato gave a very engaging performance that night. The seven played the traditional wadaiko drums of Japan. And these drums come in different sizes thus having varied pitches. And characteristic of Asian percussion music, it is very dynamic and textured and has more variety compared to the use of percussion in Western music. Despite these drums being traditional, there were moments in the group's hour long performance that was quite edgy and humorous.
One of the guys in particular provided most of the humor especially when he urged the crowd to participate. His comic reactions delighted the crowd and he was no doubt the most popular member of the group judging from the adoring crowd wanting to take photos with him after the show.
My favorite number in the program was when the four women played the shamisen like they were rockstars playing the electric guitar. And this number provided some very much welcomed melodic element amidst all the banging of the drums.
*photo courtesy of Kenzo Machinokokoro
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