Review: Yamato - The Drummers Of Japan @ SDH
Yamato: The Drummers of Japan
Friday 15th February 2013
St. David’s Hall, Cardiff
Recognised as our earliest instrument, percussion has been used for thousands of years to motivate, stimulate and celebrate. Drums are our musical heartbeat.
Founded in 1993, the Yamato troupe has given over 2,500 performances in 51 countries and regions, and with their mammoth array of Japanese drums in tow tour the world for six-to-ten months every year. In Cardiff last week for one night only, the nine performers blew the roof off with a majestic, rousing and surprisingly funny display.
Taking the ancient art of taiko drumming and banging it up-to-date, their exhilarating expertise and athleticism never ceased; lightning fast dexterity or delicate, building rhythms moved across huge barrel-like Odaikos, measuring six feet across and hewn from a huge tree, to hand-held instruments, bronze cymbals and bamboo flutes in often choreographically complex steps.
An explosive physical and musical spectacle when together as a group, each individual drummer stamped their personality on the crowd with repeated rhythms or particular strengths, while the interaction and mock competition between the performers resulted in humour that transcended language barriers.
Visiting the Welsh capital as part of their 20th Anniversary World Tour, St. David’s Hall provided the perfect backdrop to this exhibition of talent and dedication. Spending hours in training, the group’s almost gymnastic, hi-octane routines were slick and confident while the use of playful interludes between larger sections showed a love of audience involvement.
“Our greatest goal is to send our audiences home after each performance with a new vitality and passion for life”, the players state on their website. I left feeling uplifted, enthused and with a desperate desire to get some drum sticks out. The audience gave a standing ovation. Look like it was mission accomplished for Yamato in Cardiff.
Click here for info on upcoming shows at St. David’s Hall
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1 Comment – Postiwch sylw
Snoo
Rhoddwyd sylw 39 mis yn ôl - 18th February 2013 - 20:34pm
I was at this show and I have to say it was stunning! My third time seeing the Yamato drummers (once at a Japanese culture-expo and secondly in London) and they never disappoint!
One of the things I find fascinating is the way that they can incorporate humour into their performance. They really get the audience involved and manage to show off their personalities as well. Also their physical endurance is insane! Doing sit-ups hanging off the side of the stage while drumming - I can only dream about being so physically fit! Well unless I start drumming-training, sadly unlikely!
Also I must say I found the small history of the drums really interesting. "Drums are our musical heartbeat." So beautiful and true!