Yama Taiko
Learn Taiko!
Shangö Taiko Player Kurt Griffith is interested in cultivating more local Taiko players. More players, more fun, more DON! Please contact us if you are interested in workshops or regular classes.
We periodically offer Taiko Workshops in Berkley Springs. Drop us an email for more information or to get a head's up! DON tsuku Don Don! - Find out more here!
An Original Taiko Experiment
Test Recording Yama Taiko at my home studio. Challenging!
Yama Taiko - “Mountain Drums”
Sekai no taiko ga sakebimasu. Hotondo tengoku, watashitachi no yamanoiedesu!
The drums of the world shout. Almost heaven, our mountain home!
Composer’s Note, June 2023 – I had gotten to the point of thinking on this and deciding I was not happy with the stiffness and excessive formality, and it needs... something, changeups. The main line is too long and repetitive. Could use contrasting movements. So I am going to sit with this a while. But the name grafted itself to the current intiative – Shangö Mountain Taiko. Perhaps someday, once the composition is more fully realized, it will be a signature piece for this brand new group.
Shangö Taiko Player Kurt Griffith's idea for “Mountain Taiko” was for a somewhat formal, feeling of a march, but reflecting the flavor of the hills of West Virginia where he has now made his home. Inspiration is drawn from the structure of Matsuri Taiko, Renshu, and the African, Middle Eastern, and World rhythms studied and performed by Shangö Percussion. A full arrangement would include some of those world percussion instruments as well for a heady mix. A further exploration of the work we've been doing incorporating the single chudaiko into Shangös jams.
The main Yama Taiko rhythms hint at root rythmns and share rhythmic shapes with classic World Rhythms Kuku, Djole and Beladi. The main line patterns have plenty of room to layer, improvise and explore, by design. An arranged piece should start with a stately, almost formal measured tone, and ramp up into a festive and affectionate celebration.
My first adventures in recording a version of Yama Taiko was challenging, but a lot of fun. Recording a multipart Taiko arrangement when you have to play all the parts yourself is feindishly complicated. But I certainly got in some rehearsal time trying to figure this all out and get some decent takes.
Yama Taiko has at least as much world Percussion as wadaiko drumming going on. Which is fitting as I am, for the moment, the Takio player in Shangö Percussion, and to a degree, lrgely the point. But let's get everybody in on this jam to play! Listen to the results of the first experiments below.
Any new composition is a journey, and Yama-Taiko is already morphing and telling me what it wants, and I'll from time to time update this page to refect the eveolution of the piece. It's not been boring. Also, it's one thing to compose a piece, quite another to learn it well enough to teach and perform it! — Ich Ni So Re!
Kurt Griffith
Yama Taiko Kuchishoga
Jiuchi
| 1 | - | 2 | - | 3 | - | 4 | - |
| don | tsuku | don | tsuku | don | tsuku | don | tsuku |
| Ten | teke | Ten | teke | Ten | teke | Ten | teke |
Can be played on any high or medium pitched drum.
Shimedaiko. Djembe, Doubmbek,, etc..
Main Rhythm Patterns
Version 2 - August 2020
| The empty end space is important. ( virtual “su” ) – | V | |||||||
| 1 | – | 2 | – | 3 | – | 4 | – | |
| 1 | DON | su | DON | kara | Ka | Ra | kara | – |
| 1a | DON | kara | kara | Ka | Ka | Ra | kara | – |
| — | ||||||||
| 2. | DON | doko | DON | kara | Ka | Ra | kara | – |
| 3. | DON | doko | Don | Don | Ka | Ra | kara | – |
| 4. | DON | doko | doko | Don | Ka | Ra | kara | – |
| 5. | DON | DON | doko | Don | Ka | Ra | kara | – |
| 6. | Doro | doro | DON | DON | Ka | Ra | kara | – |
| 7. | Doro | tsuku | doko | DON | Ka | Ra | kara | – |
| 8. | DON | doko | DON | doko | Don | Don | kara | – |
| 9.* | DON | kara | DON | kara | Don | kara | kara | ka |
The main lines for the taiko/s. Lines 1 and 1a can be played as lead in or breaks with just the DONs, leaving out the rim hits to the fuchi. Note the different intensities of the Dons (big hit in the hara/center) in the different lines, DON vs Don. Doro and doko are less strong. Tsuku is even quieter, played lighter near the edge of the drum. Doro is played "tighter" than Doko. This gives the rhythm some bounce and texture.
It's important that the end space at the 4-and point is left empty on the main line, this provides structure and pulse combined with strong first notes. Lines 2-8 cycle throgh increasing complexity to Line 8, which is nearly filled to contrast with the lean and formal line 1/1a. All the main lines end with fuchi taps... Ka Ra kara (just ... kara for Line 8 ), then the virtual su (rest) at the end provides an anchor. (Ver 2) – Line 9 acts as an indicator for the end of the main sequence, or an improv segment, or solo.
Lines 1 and 1a are repeated alternating for lead-ins, ( similar to the 2/4 and 2/4 Alt pattern) and for other instruments to solo and improvise. When soloing Yama Taiko, mantain the structure with the empty end note.
*Version 2 Note: – by adding Line 9, which also serves as a Break that allows an alternating Line 1-1a pattern to run with an even number count under the Main Sequence (ten lines total) if desired, and also acts as a signal for the end of the main sequence, improv segment, or solo. This allows more flexibility and layering options in arranging the piece. - August 2020.
Djembe / Doumbek
| Baseline (syncs with Jiuchi) | ||||||||
| 1 | – | 2 | – | 3 | – | 4 | – | |
| (1) | B | t t | B | t t | B | t t | B | t t |
| Layer One (syncs with Taiko Main Patterns 1 & 1a ) |
||||||||
| 2 | B | – | B | t t | S | T | t t | – |
| 2a | B | t t | t t | T | S | S | t t | – |
In addition to the rthyms above, Kuku or Beladi or any basic 2/4 can, and should, be played into Yama Taiko for a rich percussive mix. Try other rhythms, explore, have fun! We've added a recording of these pattens below.
Djun Djun
| 1 | – | 2 | – | 3 | – | 4 | – | |
| 1 | D | – | D | – | – | – | – | – | 2 | D | – | – | – | s | s | s s | – |
Djun Djun or other Low/bass drum can play the above, or mirror the Taiko lines.
The Whispering Mountains, West Virginia.
Arrangement
Start with lines 1 and 1a alternating with just the DONs, intoduce the jiuchi, then other instruments in stages along with fully realized lines 1/1a Play through the lines 1-8 a couple of times. Ramp up the tempo.
After a run of the main lines, fall back to altenating lnes 1./1a. while other drums improvise and solo, then solo on the taiko. Have fun with it, express your love for the mountains and our homes!
Some solo lines: – (see downloadable Yama Taiko PDF for more ideas)
DON DON DON su Don Don kara –
Ko-Don Ko-Don DON DON DON –
kara kara Don Don su DON DON –
Play the line below at end of improv segent or solo. (Main sequence Line 9.)
*Break: Don kara Don kara Don kara kara ka
If you're up for it, ramp up the tempo again and run it out. To make it more interesting, switch out the supporting rhythms on the other drums. Sync everybody up for a big thundering finish!
Yame (finish)
| 1 | – | 2 | – | 3 | – | 4 | – | |
| DON | su | DON | su | DON | su | DON | su | |
| DON | su | DON | su | DON | su | DON | su | don | Don | Don | DON | DON | DON | DON | su - KO-DON! |
Video Demos
Demo – Yama-Taiko: Rhythms
the basic parts of the Yama-Taiko - or ”Mountain Drums.” experiment . We have the Baseline or Jiuchi. The Main Line for Hand Drums, which is also the first double length line of the full eight line Yama-Taiko Pattern. The arrangement is designed to have all kinds of drums interacting with Taiko, and celebrate Shangö Percussion’s Mountain Home here in West Virginia. Check out some recordings and a downloadable PDF of the rhythms and arrangements below.
NOTE: This video does not reflect the addition of Line 9 to the Main Phrase for Version 2 - August 2020. I'm going to have to do something about that. – Kurt
Yama Taiko Recordings
An rhythm experiment blending Taiko and World Percussion.
Yama Taiko - The First Experimental Mix - V.1
My first take at an arranged recording, a first mix with all the parts. The Solos were a lot of fun! Played with a number of rhythms on Djembe, Doumbek, Bell, and pow pow drum acting as DjunDjun, and bamboo flute. The jiuchi track is taken from the clever resource Taiko Drum Machine. Headphones or subwoofer reccomended to get the bass notes - always a challence to record. (Version 1)
Download 5.6 MB
Taiko Main Lines and Jiuchi Clip
The main taiko lines over the jiuchi (TDM @ 80bpm) to give a sense of the shape and pulse. (Version 1)
Download 620k
Taiko Main Lines Only
The main taiko lines. (Version 1)
Download 1 MB
Don Tsuku Jiuchi - Three Tempos
The Don tsuku Jiuchi (baseline) at the same three tempos and timing as the Yama Taiko (Version 1) Mix. For your practicing and jammin’ pleasure.
Download 5.6 MB
Yama Taiko Baseline & Layer One Accompaniment
The Baseline and Layer One for Djembe and Doumbek tha accompanies Yama Taiko. These patterns mirror the Jiuchi and Line 1 & 1a of the Taiko parts. Added - 11/12/19
Download 4.4 MB
Yama Taiko Baseline, Taiko, Bell, & Voice Tracks
Tracks from the First Yama-Taiko v.1 Mix to play over – The Baseline/Jiuchi, Taiko Main Part & Solo, Bell, and Vocal Cues with the Flute & Clave intro. You can use this track to parctice playing other rhythms with Yama-Taiko. Added - 3/23.20 (Version 1)
Download 4.4 MB
Yama Taiko Kuchishoga & Arrangement [Ver.2]
Updated - Downoadable Drum patterns and experiemntal arrangement for Yama Taiko. A work In progress – Expect updates and revisions cpariciously. [Updated - Version 2 - 16 August .2020 ]
Download/View PDF
Page updated: 8.16.20, 6.15.23