Monday, October 13, 2003



I think I was about 10 the first time I heard them. Somewhere between 10 and 12. I have no idea what the day was or the occasion, all I remember is that it was held at the old Chilliwack hockey rink. I was spell bound and totally hooked. The sounds of taiko drums had opened up a whole new listening experience for me. It changed me in tons of ways and I think affected the styles of music I later have come to love.

Taiko?????

You know those giant amazing sounding Japanese drums!!

Since that time I had only ever heard them on TV or in movies. It is not the same let me tell ya. CDs work only if you have a good stereo.
Since coming to Japan I have had the pleasure of listening to them twice. Both times this year. Odd.

Last night I went to a concert with Kim. We had the pleasure of hearing the famous group Kodo. These people are amazing!!!! I was almost in a trance through a few of the songs. These are the people who did the sound track for the Chinese movie 'Hero', which is an amazing movie by the way.

There is something about the sound that these drums make that is able to make every nerve ending in my body surface and set me on fire, and yet I will actually shiver as if I am cold. My whole body feels like it could explode at any second and my heart is beating ten times faster than is required and yet I am too afraid to move. Any movement disturbs the sound that is almost perfect to my ears. For some one whose ears are as sensitive as mine it amazes me that I love the sound of these drums so much.

Later Kim and I pooled our money together and we bought two CDs with the bad intent of copying them. And then I went for a jog to try to relax my nerves.
I felt wonderful and I slept well.

This weekend also proved to be a business opportunity weekend. I got a surprise phone call from a Canadian acquaintance here in Japan. He is doing a construction gig in Okinawa for two months and asked me to take over one of his classes for him. Wednesday nights 4 people. I said sure. I will make about an extra 400$ so that is cool. I start that next week. That and my other friend Jean phoned about starting up our tennis game again. I am going to be hugely busy but in a good way.

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Posted by (Top)Andrea::10/13/2003 :: 0 Comments:

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