Already in the Japanese myths the Gods were dancing and drumming.
In "Shintoism", the old Japanese religion, the Gods of the forefathers were called by means of the sound of the drums. Drumming was to get people closer heavenly powers and vice versa, to awake the Gods and ghosts asking them to fulfill peoples' wishes of fertility, rich harvests, health and happiness. In everyday life the hunters were playing the drums to rouse the animals; the farmers were playing the drums to ask for a good harvest and the soldiers used the drums to give their signals thus encouraging each other to fight.    

At the imperial court the drums were played at the Noh- and Kabuki-theatre. In Buddhism the sound of the drums represents Buddha's voice. 

Most of the pieces played by the Taiko-group TENTEKKO originate from the shintoistic folklore and from the multitude of festivities of village life. 

In Japanese Taiko means  "big drum".

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Kontakt:  Künstleragentur KARIN KAISER,  Füsilierstr. 2,  40476 Düsseldorf,  tel./fax: 0211-4370715, KKKaiser@T-Online.de