The Heart of Drumming

Drumming speaks to the soul. The thunderous thumping reminiscent of the beating of our hearts seems to sooth even the most anxious of people. It touches us in a very personal way.

Yamato – The Drummers of Japan are in Toronto this coming Sat. Nov. 26 at Roy Thomson Hall to bring their nearly 200 shows in eight European countries and 26 North American cities to a close. Their infections performances have garnered much acclaim and created a following around the world.

The 10-member troupe – comprised of both men and women – draw their inspiration from the warmth, tenderness and power of the heartbeat. The current tour, Kami-Nari, explores the power of thunder through dozens of drums of various sizes, including one made from a 400-yr-old tree, which create a wide range of moods, sounds and rhythms, “from the delicate patter of raindrops to the powerful roar of thunder,” reads the press release.

If you’ve experienced Taiko drumming before – Yamato or not – you know this statement is true. It’s hard to believe a drum can emote so deeply. More melodic instruments usually set a mood while the drum keeps the rhythm going … not in the case of Yamato, where the drum is the feature instrument.

“The drum and drumming is the oldest kind of music in human history, it’s something that is very actual, very present,” the troupe’s English spokesperson, Uriel G. Luft, told S&H.ca. “The fact the audience is being brought into the performance the way Yamato does it is an additional bonus.”

Taiko, the traditional Japanese art form that refers to both the drums and the physically demanding artistic discipline of ensemble drumming, is believed to have originated in ancient Japan thousands of years ago as a form of communication between villages. The modern version started in 1950s Japan and has become extremely popular with estimates of 10,000 Taiko groups in Japan and North America alone.

But Yamato is a very distinct rhythmic beast; founded by Masa Ogawa in 1993 in Nara, 'the land of Yamato', which is said to be the birthplace of Japanese culture. Beginning its career at the Edinburgh Fringe Festival in 1998, Yamato is a mix of ancient and modern percussion, which draws modern audiences into the ancient tradition.

“The instruments are ancient, some of the songs are old songs, but the way they are presented is quit modern and 21st century,” said Luft. “In other words the performance is very spiritual, putting the entire energy of your soul into the drumming and conveying that to the audience. It’s also contemporary because they are using costumes, they are using lighting, they are using humour, the cast is half women half men and normally drumming is only for men.”

The multi-layered rhythms and meticulous choreography derived from martial arts add to Yamato depth. The ensemble also adds dance, flutes and other traditional instruments to the performance, constructing more and more layers to each song. Sometimes you’re not sure where to look or what to listen to.

The tour’s name, Kami-Nari, which literally means “God sound”, comes from ancient times. Taken from a painting by a prolific painter of the Edo Period, 400 or 500 years ago, where he represents the God of Thunder on one side and the God of Wind on the other side. Luft said it’s a way of presenting the Japanese culture, which is quite old.

The physicality of the performance is what really draws audiences into the show. Not just the performers are affected by the thunder of the drum, the audience is also deeply affected – you don’t merely hear the show, you feel it too. When Yamato drums everything vibrates, including people’s bodies.

“Many people enjoy being touched in this physical way,” said Luft. “We live in a very intellectual or economic way and to come back to the physicality of that kind of music is something people are touched by.”

Try not to miss this performance at Roy Thomson Hall (60 Simcoe St.) Sat. Nov. 26, 8 pm. Tickets range from $35 - $69.50; for more info visit the RTH website – www.roythomson.com- or call (416) 872-4255. For more info on Yamato, visit their website – www.yamato.jp

Courtesy images