Newbury reverberates at the power of Japanese drums

NSF: Mugenkyo Taiko Drummers, at the Corn Exchange

on Tuesday, May 14

Review by BRIAN HARRINGTON

MUGENKYO, whose name means ‘limitless reverberations’, are celebrating 30 years of playing taiko, and touring the UK and beyond.

This is their In Time tour, celebrating the release of a double album covering their music over that 30-year period, and honouring taiko master Masaaki Kurumaya Sensei who died recently, under whom they studied for two years in Japan.

Founder Neil Mackie returned to his native Scotland and set-up Mugenkyo with Miyuki Williams.

Originally they worked as a duo for several years, but the current tour sees them performing as an eight- piece and they now have a dojo south of Glasgow where they teach and offer a variety of courses.

Their performance is about so much more than just the spectacular drumming, there is precision choreography making it a feast for both the eyes and the ears.

There is huge energy with drummers leaping between different drums as they create polyrythmic soundscapes.

There is great power, but also great subtlety with the use of hand cymbals and metal bowls played with sticks, a technique cleverly and humourously demostrated by Miyuki.

Visually, the use in certain pieces of masks and of coloured streamers attached to the drumsticks evoking flames was stunning.

Mugenkyo are both entertaining and informative, explaining and demonstrating different styles of taiko, including, for example, one derived from a group of defeated samurai who were banished and their swords confiscated who used the drumsticks to maintain and hone their fighting skills and moves.

The near-capacity audience tonight was utterly absorbed by this performance and it absolutely confirmed Mugenkyo as performers at the forefront of taiko, who are both carrying on an ancient tradition and pushing the frontiers of this art form with innovative compostions of their own, such as the brilliant Chronos.

Spectacular, stunning and fascinating.