BLESSINGS OF THE EARTH

Acclaimed Australian drumming group TaikOz presents the world premiere of Blessings Of The Earth, building on the ensemble’s reputation for dramatic performances that couple explosive energy and dynamism with refinement and grace. TaikOz combines the power of the taiko, or Japanese drum, with the ethereal sound of the bamboo shakuhachi in a unique and highly physical form of drumming. Blessings Of The Earth will include the full range of taiko, including the ôdaiko Grand Drum - which at 250kg is the world’s largest drum - and Solo from Kaidan: A Ghost Story, a fusion of dance, music and theatre by internationally renowned choreographer Meryl Tankard which features ensemble member Anton Lock. Since 1997 TaikOz has developed a unique performance aesthetic that reflects the group’s dedication to the forms of Wadaiko drumming and the desire to create new music for today’s audiences. The ensemble forged its unique sound by drawing on the input of its members, whose diverse musical backgrounds range from traditional Japanese music to jazz, rock and pop. TaikOz has performed with the Melbourne Symphony Orchestra, Sydney Symphony and was featured in Bell Shakespeare’s 2009 production of Pericles. The ensemble presented an all-Australian programme of taiko music at Tokyo’s National Theatre of Japan after a month long tour celebrating the Japan-Australia friendship agreement. Along with teachers and collaborators including Eitetsu Hayashi, Fuun no Kai and Meryl Tankard, the company continues to create an exciting synthesis of East and West, old and new. Blessing Of The Earth will be a truly visceral performance, experienced not simply by the ears and eyes but throughout the entire body. “TaikOz astound and mesmerise with its musicianship, showing what cross-cultural collaboration at its best can achieve. No wonder the show finished with a standing ovation” Courier Mail