With Christmas coming up right around the corner, I am looking forward to some much needed time with family and friends. As I take a moment to think back to all of the taiko-related things that have occurred this year, I must recall one that stands out in my mind the most. Meeting and playing with an extremely talented and renowned Shakuhachi and taiko drummer, Marco Lienhard.
Every year in Orlando the Japan Association of Orlando along with multiple sponsors and volunteers, come together to put on an enormous Nihon Matsuri. I have had the privilege and honor to perform and volunteer for this event every year since I began playing taiko in 2006-2007. Each year it gets bigger and bigger with more sponsors, donors, events, booths, prizes, etc. We have been very fortunate to have some amazing guests from Japan come over to showcase/demo various arts and crafts, martial arts, music, and food which has helped make this event a unique and exciting part of Orlando’s very diverse cultural population.
This year, I was extremely surprised when I had heard the news the famed drummer and Shakuhachi practitioner, Marco Lienhard was going to be joining us for the festival and even playing for the audience. It wasn’t long before that news was trumped by something else – I was going to be playing with him! AH!
I, along with other members of the “junior” Matsuriza team had worked hard over the two months prior to the festival to perform a brand new song that incorporated taiko, shamisen, and fue. The night before the event, we held one final practice to make sure we were ready. As we prepared to rehearse, Marco-san walked in. It was like being in the same room with a taiko superstar!
After some conversation (in Japanese) – which completely blew my mind how well he spoke – we settled into rehearsal. It was then decided that Marco-san was to also play with us during the brand new number we had been working on previously. I cannot begin to describe how incredible it was to hear him play his Shakuhachi. While lightly playing my taiko, I couldn’t help but be put into an almost trance-like state. His fluid movements helped to tell a story of many emotions conveyed through each note. His eyes closed and his facial expressions helped to create an atmosphere that sends chills up and down your spine. You could imagine an entire story through his melodies while the small hairs on your body began to stand on end. They were intricate and pleasing to the ear. Each note entailed a place in time devoted to expressing the nature of Japan and its rich history. It was absolutely mesmerizing.
That evening, we all went to dinner and although the majority of the conversation was in Japanese and I was only able to pick out small pieces of dialogue, I was delighted to hear him talk about so many things. His previous experiences around the world, his time with Za Ondekoza, his group out of New York, eating habits, etc. I was so intrigued!
After my fill, it was time to say our ‘so longs’ that night, for the next morning was to be incredibly blissful.
As the day began on November 2nd 2014, I prepared myself for the festival. Shortly before noon, we all go into our positions. Marco-san was behind me and had suggested that he use my fue fingerings to play along with the opening number of hyakunin daiko. It was really amazing to have such a well-known artist playing alongside me not only once, but four times in one day! The second time we played together was for the new song we had rehearsed the night before. Then again during Chichibu Yatai Bayashi. Finally we shared Odaiko for the grand finale of the festival. A long and fun-filled day of playing taiko with many friends and amazing artists.
Sometime we take small things for granted. We forget how those small, seemingly unimportant times in our lives can actually turn out to be quite life-altering.
Having the opportunity to have met, played with, and conversed casually with so many incredible artists and performers is like a dream in my little corner of the world. Those memories are ones that I will forever cherish as I continue on this path that I am forging before me. Their humble nature and gracious attitudes towards others is refreshing and highly encouraging.
I hope to one day be a beacon of light to aspiring artists and drummers much like Marco-san has been to me. I look forward to the new adventures with other world-renowned musicians and artists as I journey through life. Each one tells a different story and broadens my horizons on taiko drumming, which I consider to be priceless experiences that will help me become a more humbled practitioner.
Next time you have a chance to meet someone who is considered to be “famous” in the taiko community, remember that they are too, human. So far, I have not met a single person who felt that other people were below them. To these talented individuals, all humans are equal and should be treated as such.
Still, I can’t help but ‘fanboy’ just a little bit. (^_^)
Until next time, Happy Drumming!
Jason S.
Every year in Orlando the Japan Association of Orlando along with multiple sponsors and volunteers, come together to put on an enormous Nihon Matsuri. I have had the privilege and honor to perform and volunteer for this event every year since I began playing taiko in 2006-2007. Each year it gets bigger and bigger with more sponsors, donors, events, booths, prizes, etc. We have been very fortunate to have some amazing guests from Japan come over to showcase/demo various arts and crafts, martial arts, music, and food which has helped make this event a unique and exciting part of Orlando’s very diverse cultural population.
This year, I was extremely surprised when I had heard the news the famed drummer and Shakuhachi practitioner, Marco Lienhard was going to be joining us for the festival and even playing for the audience. It wasn’t long before that news was trumped by something else – I was going to be playing with him! AH!
I, along with other members of the “junior” Matsuriza team had worked hard over the two months prior to the festival to perform a brand new song that incorporated taiko, shamisen, and fue. The night before the event, we held one final practice to make sure we were ready. As we prepared to rehearse, Marco-san walked in. It was like being in the same room with a taiko superstar!
After some conversation (in Japanese) – which completely blew my mind how well he spoke – we settled into rehearsal. It was then decided that Marco-san was to also play with us during the brand new number we had been working on previously. I cannot begin to describe how incredible it was to hear him play his Shakuhachi. While lightly playing my taiko, I couldn’t help but be put into an almost trance-like state. His fluid movements helped to tell a story of many emotions conveyed through each note. His eyes closed and his facial expressions helped to create an atmosphere that sends chills up and down your spine. You could imagine an entire story through his melodies while the small hairs on your body began to stand on end. They were intricate and pleasing to the ear. Each note entailed a place in time devoted to expressing the nature of Japan and its rich history. It was absolutely mesmerizing.
That evening, we all went to dinner and although the majority of the conversation was in Japanese and I was only able to pick out small pieces of dialogue, I was delighted to hear him talk about so many things. His previous experiences around the world, his time with Za Ondekoza, his group out of New York, eating habits, etc. I was so intrigued!
After my fill, it was time to say our ‘so longs’ that night, for the next morning was to be incredibly blissful.
As the day began on November 2nd 2014, I prepared myself for the festival. Shortly before noon, we all go into our positions. Marco-san was behind me and had suggested that he use my fue fingerings to play along with the opening number of hyakunin daiko. It was really amazing to have such a well-known artist playing alongside me not only once, but four times in one day! The second time we played together was for the new song we had rehearsed the night before. Then again during Chichibu Yatai Bayashi. Finally we shared Odaiko for the grand finale of the festival. A long and fun-filled day of playing taiko with many friends and amazing artists.
Sometime we take small things for granted. We forget how those small, seemingly unimportant times in our lives can actually turn out to be quite life-altering.
Having the opportunity to have met, played with, and conversed casually with so many incredible artists and performers is like a dream in my little corner of the world. Those memories are ones that I will forever cherish as I continue on this path that I am forging before me. Their humble nature and gracious attitudes towards others is refreshing and highly encouraging.
I hope to one day be a beacon of light to aspiring artists and drummers much like Marco-san has been to me. I look forward to the new adventures with other world-renowned musicians and artists as I journey through life. Each one tells a different story and broadens my horizons on taiko drumming, which I consider to be priceless experiences that will help me become a more humbled practitioner.
Next time you have a chance to meet someone who is considered to be “famous” in the taiko community, remember that they are too, human. So far, I have not met a single person who felt that other people were below them. To these talented individuals, all humans are equal and should be treated as such.
Still, I can’t help but ‘fanboy’ just a little bit. (^_^)
Until next time, Happy Drumming!
Jason S.