Concerts
- February 6th, 7pm Compensa Concert Hall, Vilnius
Kodo comes to Lithuania in order to introduce us with the supernatural nature of taiko, it is the most known and respected group of this style, and they are considered to be the ambassadors of taiko in the world. A team of Japanese artists, musicians and performers strive to maintain the connection with nature which was created in the past, to celebrate the traditional way of life and culture that many Japanese have forgotten, and to carry it into the future.
Kodo performs all over the world, regularly appearing in Japan, Europe and the US. It spends about a third of the tour abroad, a third of the concerts in Japan, and the rest of the time on creation and rehearsal. There are over thirty records in Kodo discography today.
The energetic concerts of Kodo combine traditional theatre rituals and contemporary compositions with ancient instruments. There are a lot of tension, angular postures, stylish gestures, wildlife elements such as animal sounds and movements can astonish every listeners, while at the same time maintaining extraordinary finesse, perfect control, tranquillity and peace. The technique they play is completely different from others and no one else create this unique visual sound.
The band performs with three categories of taiko drums, the heaviest o-daiko weights 400 kilograms! During concerts they usually have between 30 and 50 drums on stage. Other traditional elements of Japanese music also play an integral role: instruments such as fue (bamboo flute), shamisen (Japanese banjo), koto (harp) and narimono (metal percussion), as well as dancing and different vocals.
In 2001 Kodo members became the first Japanese artists to perform at the Nobel Peace Prize concert in Oslo. The group was officially listed in 2002 FIFA World Cup anthem and performed live at the official concerts of the Cup. In 2003 the world-renowned film HERO drew the attention of filmmakers to Kodo. And in 2006 for the first time, they collaborated on stage with Kabuki master Tamasaburo Bando in the musical dance performance ”Amaterasu”, which encouraged with new forms of percussion and paved the way for more influential scenes including Tokyo's “Kabukiza” Theater.
The Kodo group's goals are endless, while traveling they are climbing one a peak and afterwards climbing to a new one, a greater one, always maintaining a broad outlook, natural presence and a pure heart. They enjoy creating the best they can – pure, humble and empathetic. During the performances the drummers who are forgetting themselves become tremendous, blend in with the natural world, and allow the audience's imagination to expand, to feel connected to different worlds – heaven and earth.
Tickets
