WOMAD

Joji Hirota & Taiko Drummers

From Japan, United Kingdom

The words ‘taiko’ and ‘daiko’ mean ‘drums’ in Japanese. Hokkaido, the northernmost part of Japan, has long been home to the drumming troupe Hokkai Daiko and their inspirational leader Itto Ohba, a Taiko master of longstanding. The percussionist, shakuhachi flute virtuoso and Hokkaido native Joji Hirota trained with Hokkai Daiko in the 1970s and he has considered their work, and especially that of Ohba himself, to be his main source of musical and spiritual inspiration ever since. After studying percussion and composing music in Japan since his early teens, Hirota moved to Europe in the late 1970s and took up the post of musical director of the acclaimed Lindsay Kemp Dance Company. He composed and performed the music for the company’s award winning 1991 production ‘Onnagata’. Later that year he joined Chinese musician Guo Yue, and ex-Clannad Irishman Pol Brennan in the group ‘Trisan’, whose eponymous album on Real World Records won the Tower Records best contemporary instrumental music award in 1993. Since then Hirota has toured with various projects, including ‘Taiko to Tabla’, his collaboration with percussionist Pete Locket, ‘Ensemble Tozai’, a chamber group which includes shakuhachi, piano, violin and flute, and the London Metropolitan Ensemble. Hirota also composed the music for Anglia TV’s ‘Survival’ series of wildlife programmes and The Royal Shakespeare Company’s recent production of ‘Macbeth’. In short, the man is a master of his native country’s music traditions and a fearless experimentalist and collaborator. With his nine–piece troupe of Taiko drummers, Joji Hirota blends precision, power and soul to dazzling effect.Biographies for JOJI HIROTA & TAIKO DRUMMERS Joji HirotaHirota was born in North Japan. At the age of eleven, he began a lifelong study of percussion and has been composing from the age of thirteen. He studied at the Kyoto Municipal Arts University. In 1972 he was invited by STOMU YAMASHITA to be the musical director and percussionist of the RED BUDDHA THEATRE. In 1977 he became the musical director and percussionist for the LINDSAY KEMP DANCE COMPANY. Hirota was toured extensively throughout Europe, Mexico, Canada and the USA, South America and Japan. He has made four solo albums, “SAHASUHARA”, “WHEEL OF FORTUNE” “RAIN FOREST DREAM” and “THE GATE”. In 1991, THE LINDSAY DANCE COMPANY won the TIME OUT Award for best dance company for their production of “ONNAGATA” for which Hirota wrote and performed the music. Hirota has also been working for WOMAD since 1986, as a solo percussionist. In 1991, a new group, TRISAN was formed with Joji, Guo Yue and Pol Brennan. The group toured Europe, Canada and Japan. In November 1992, TRISAN recorded their first album, which obtained the No.1 nomination by Tower Records in 1993 for best contemporary instrumental music. In 1993, the group toured the USA.Joji started to play the Japanese drums in his early 20’s. 1992, Joji went to Hokkaido where he encountered the impressive Hokkai Daiko, He was trained by Mr Itto Ohba - great master of Japanese Taiko Drumming who is the founder of the group based in Noboribetsu Hokkaido - and his son Kazuoki, their style is the most important influence on Hirota’s drumming music. An album called RED RIBBON with Guo Yue was released in September 1994. In the same year, Hirota composed and performed for the TRIANGLE THEATRE COMPANY for the production of “Tributaries”. He performed with Noh play master N. UMEKAWA at The Place and the Union Chapel.He composed and performed for the Mulan Theatre company in “The Modern Kyogen” in London and Singapore. He appeared at the Womad festival in Estonia, and at the Dranorter Folk Festival in Belgium, Jazz Café LondonHe started to work for a televised Wildlife series (Anglia) with Anthony Phillips. He appeared the BBC radio programme “Kaleidoscope” In 1995 , He toured intensively Italy, Belgium, Spain and also performed at the Queen Elizabeth Hall with the South Bank Gamelan Players.In July, Joji toured the UK with Peter Lockett. They played at the Purcell Room as part of the Rhythm Stick Festival as well as numerous summer festivals. In August Joji went to Sardinia for the Ittiritmo Festival and in September played at the Birmingham Japan Festival. In the Autumn of that year, Joji composed and recorded again for Anglia TV (Survival) with Anthony Phillip. From October to January, he performed at the Young Vic Theatre for “The Jungle Book” 1996, In February he went to the Brugge Festival again and in March travelled to Singapore to work with the MU-LANG Theatre Company who performed “Modern Kyogen”. He performed in the UK, Germany, Norway, Italy and at the South Bank for the Rhythm Sticks Festival.He also worked for JAH WOBBLE for his Italian Tour.He appeared various Festivals such as Rimini Music Festival in Italy and at the Leper Festival in Belgium. In October, Joji toured Europe with Bill Evans’s Band.In November and December, he composed for Anglia TV and for Channel 5 TV. He also played at two WOMAD festivals, one in the Canary Islands and at the Barbican. In 1998,The album “Taiko to Tabla” with Peter Lockett was released in November, for which they had a 7-week tour in Belgium and Holland. As a WOMAD artist he performed in Australia, New Zealand, Singapore and South Africa. His most recent album “The Gate” is a solo CD released in July of 1999. Following The Gate’s release, Joji performed with The BBC Concert Orchestra at the WOMAD Reading festival and also with the Seattle Creative Orchestra in the USA.From the end of 1999 towards the Year 2000, Joji worked with the Royal Shakespeare Company as a solo percussionist and as a co-composer for its production of “ Macbeth “ eventually performing in various places in the UK, Japan, and the USA as well as recording for the film version broadcast on Channel 4.In July 2000, , Joji played at the Hanover, Germany EXPO 2000. In August, He performed at the Edinburgh Festival with the String Quintet and Harp. In December, he composed and recorded for Anglia TV with Anthony Phillips for Anglia TV’snew “Survival ”documentary series.During 2001, as part of Japan UK Festival, Joji performed numerous concerts all over the UK with a new Group “TOZAI ” (Violin: M. Kino, Piano: R. Fujisawa, Shakuhachi: H. Kato) and also with his Taiko Group. In July, he also played at the WOMAD Reading festival with the London Metropolitan Orchestra String Ensemble.In July 2002, Joji released the Japanese version the CD “ The GATE ” from EMI Japan, followed by the tour in Japan, Sapporo, Esashi and Tokyo with LMO String Ensemble. In August, Joji started collaboration work with “ OREKA TX ” Basque Spain.2003, Joji composed the music “The Waterfall of Time Suites ” for the project with artist Elizabeth Ogilvie and The Scottish Flute Trio. In April and May, they performed at St. Mary Cathedral, Glasgow.The Taiko DrummersMark AlcockMark studied, performed and taught Taiko drumming for two years with the Tennon Daiko durmmers of Wakayama prefecture in Southern Japan. His teachers included Katusji Kondo, former front man of the world famous Kodo drummers.On his return to England in 1994, he began playing with the brilliant percussionist Joji Hirota, and was also one of the original members of Mugenkyo, the exciting Taiko Group now based in Glasgow.He has recently began playing with the Chinese flautist Guo Yue.In these three groups, Mark has played all over the UK, in Australia, Italy, Luxemberg and The Canary Islands.In 1996 he joined forces with James Barrow to set up the Gyosei -School of Taiko, offering the only hands-on Taiko workshops in the UK at schools and festivals.In the year 2000, he returned to Japan once again, to perform in a millennium concert with Tennon Daiko.Liz Walters Liz Walters began playing Taiko in 1995 with Mugenkyo, and soon became renowned for her unique Taiko style- a blend of power and sensitivity.She has toured extensively in the UK and has also performed in Japan, Germany and Austria.Recently she has begun playing with Joji Hirota.Shingo KarubeStarted playing Taiko Drums in 1996.Currently the supervisor for AKATSUKI-DAIKO of Gyosei College, Reading, UK.Has been playing with Joji Hirota since 1998 and has played in Austria, Belgium, Spain and all over UK.Kumiko Suzuki1984, She started to learn the art of Taiko drumming at the Hatsuuma Daiko in Kawaguchi, Saitama Prefecture.She played in her own concert at Kawaguchi in 1993.Made 13 appearances at the annual Hatsuuma Daiko Competitions, 10 of which she won.As well as traditional Taiko drumming, she has also been able to incorporate her Taiko skills with other genres of music including modern ballet and pop music.She has been a kindergarten teacher at a Japanese school since 1997 where she has taught Taiko to both pupils and teachers.1998, She formed a Taiko group from the Japanese teachers at her Kindergarten.1999, She played a concert with a pianist and singer at the Daiwa Foundation Japan House. 2001, Kumiko has become a member of Joji Hirota Taiko Drumming Group. May 2003, She appeared at WOMAD Festival In Caceras , Spain with Joji Hirota.Emi Watanabe MaidmentEmi was born in Japan about 100km north of Tokyo. After graduating from music college in 1990 , She went on to study ryuteki and shinobue under Michiko Akao and three years later nohkan under Yukimasa Isso. She is now studying composition uner the tutelage of Dr Ross Lorraino ( of Kings college) and working on a piano suite, which she hopes to publish in the near future. Since moving to England five years ago Emi has toured the country with the UK-based taiko group Mugenkyo, has appeared on BBC TV, and played at the Millennium Dome and BMIC (British Music Information Centre).Asako Sach1998, She started Taiko at “ KODAMA DAIKO ” in Kashiwa, Chiba prefecture, Japan.She also supported a local traditional folk music “ Tega Bayashi ”in Shonan town, Chiba.2002, She become a member of Joji Hirota & Taiko Drummers She is also a member of Tamashii Daiko.Nao MasudaStudied and performed the drums for two years at junior high school.Has sung and played diverse instruments in collaboration with various musicians for both her own and other artists' projects since.Given basic Taiko drumming lessons by the late Masatsugu Kawate, the founder of 'Baren Daiko' after joining his instrumental band in 1996.Moved to London in 1998.Started studying Taiko under Joji Hirota in 2001.Currently performing with Joji as well as working on her own music with other musicians. Xavier BoulangerStarted JUDO in 1987 then shifted to KARATE in 1990.Started playing drums in 1993.Studied at CMA (Centre des Musiques Actuelles) in France from 1996 to 1997. Has performed with various musicians/bands as a session drummer since.Moved to London in 1998 and has been teaching and training KARATE.Joined 'Joji Hirota and Taiko Drummers' in 2003 and has been studying and performing Taiko drums with them.Yukiko KatoShe had intensive Taiko lessons with "YOKOHAMA TSUZUKI TAKIKO GROUP" in Japan.She has been a member of "JOJI HIROTA's Taiko group" for a year. She is also a member of TAMASHII Taiko group. The InstrumentsRyutekiThe ryuteki came from China over 1000 years ago. It means dragon flute and according to Chinese legend, the sound is very similar to that of a dragon. It is made of bamboo. The inside of the flute is lacquered and some places are wrapped with strands of bark from cherry tree. It is mainly used in Gagaku, which is court music.ShinobueAlso made of bamboo, but a different kind, and is lacqured and wrapped with bark. It is much simpler than ryuteki and is mainly used for festival music and Kabuki, which is a form of Japanese theatre.NohkanIt is also made of bamboo and used in both Noh theatre and Kabuki. Although it looks similar to the ryuteki there is an extra pipe inside of the flute called the-nodo- (or -throat- in English).The unsual structure gives it a mysterious high-pitched sound called * hishigi *. It is said that this sound is used to call spirits.