Taiko Composition Library

​Song Title："Malambo Taiko"

(Argentina, South America)

From the composer(s) & team:

"Malambo is a traditional rhythm in Argentina played with Bombo Legüero and body percussion. The bombo legüero is also played hanged like the katsugi, so we also use katsugis in our song. The first time we played this song was last year when we traveled to Japan to do some workshops and performances. We wanted to share with people some of our roots through their culture. It is very powerful and cheerful at the same time."

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Composed by: Romina Taverna

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Contact information:

• Email：zendaikotalleres@gmail.com

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@romitaverna

@zendaiko

SONG Title："Hana Hachijo (WTC Version)"

​（Niigata Prefecture, Sado City)

Hana Hachijo: Infinity Project

～Blossoming Taiko Rhythms Around the World～

“Hana Hachijo (WTC Version )" Song submission & video collaboration:

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Message from Chieko Kojima: “My name is Chieko Kojiama of Taiko Performing Arts Ensemble Kodo. 
Kodo is based on Sado Island and tour all over the world. 
But this year due to the COVID-19 pandemic, we are not able to meet everyone in person.
Upon receiving this project, I asked our friends around the world to join us by submitting their videos.There is a taiko piece called ‘Hana Hachijo’, where ‘hana’ means flower.  My wish is that through this piece, each person’s flower will bloom through taiko.

In commemoration of the first WTC which will be held in Japan, I would like to connect many of your "flowers" from all over the world starting by passing to you my "Hachijo" flower baton. Please continue to play, share and pass on the baton with the hashtag #hanabaton to your friends around the world!”

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We received many flowers from everyone,  and we submitted a collaboration video for the exhibition at the Niigata Prefectural Cultural Festival.  I would like to show you the bouquet of flowers that we have gathered. Please enjoy!​

https://n-story.jp/bunkasai/​

Created by: Chieko Kojima

*Chieko was featured in the Live Talk sessions. Be sure to check it out the archive here!

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Contact information:

• Email：cfp012220@gmail.com

From the composer(s) & team:

"I was thinking about a way to add something to the Taiko World during this pandemic. So I wrote this score.
You can use it to practice during the pandemic and when it is all over you can use it as a solo in between songs.
The theme is the quarantine we are going through. We were carefree and then this whirlwind of changes happened.
It is best played in a well tuned Shimedaiko, because of the higher pitch and the tighter leather tension.
Although my original intention was for it to be easy for any player, the final score is tricky, so please see it as a challenge, even for experienced players.
It is free to use, free to teach, royalty-free and free to arrange it as you wish."

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Composed by: Lucas Muraguchi - Ishindaiko, Brazil

*Lucas will be featured in the Live Talk sessions. Be sure to check it out!

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Hashtag(s)：#ishindaiko #drumming #taiko #quarantine

Contact information:

• Email：lucas.muraguchi@gmail.com

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​Song Title："Wombat Combat"

(Belgium & Germany)

Composed by:  Jonas vom Orde, Arranged by : TAIKO BASTARDS

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Trouble is brewing in the Australian outback today! 

The Clutterbuck Creek dried out long ago and the tumbleweeds have been ruling the wastelands ever since. In the dusty heat of the outback, two wombats are having a fur-ious disagreement.

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Their paws are scraping the ground as they circle each other, their butts are wiggling and waggling as they dash forward – and then retreat again - as they search for the perfect moment to bite each other's ears.

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From TAIKO BASTARDS:
We’d like to offer to you “Wombat Combat”, a piece very special to us that is inspired by the idea of two animals fighting in the wild.

It’s a piece which combines the different movement and rhythmic Kumi-Daiko styles, and also showcases all players by distributing the melodic motifs across all instruments.

You are welcome to make this piece your own - every stylistic approach is fine with us. As long as everyone in the group is playing with the same intention, and telling a little story about some fighting wombats... it will still be “Wombat Combat”.
Have fun with this piece, and release the wombats!!Ingmar Kikat, Mel Ski, Jonas vom Orde, Steven Cools

Contact：

• Email : TaikoBastards@gmail.com

Taiko Bastards are happy to respond to any feedback or questions you have about this piece. Email them and we’ll get back to you as soon as possible!

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Socal Media: 

We’d love to see you playing this piece! If you have a video of your progress, please upload and tag it with #ReleaseTheWombats and #WombatCombat to share it with the community.

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Find us on YouTube, Facebook and Instagram:

​Song Title：" yamishibai "

(" teatro das trevas (PT-BR) / 「闇芝居」")

(Brazil, South America)

From the composer(s) & team:

"Yamishibai was inspired by the peculiar way of playing taiko, focused on making “sound effects” in the stage, inspired in the traditional Japanese theater, Kabuki.

The music is composed of rhythms and melodies that intend to cause a feeling of suspense in those who watch.

The main theme of the song is a theater play with a horror plot, the Theater of Darkness (yamishibai). The song's title came from a Japanese animated series with the same name, in which Japanese urban legends are portrayed.

Our performance of Yamishibai was performed unfinished, and currently remains as is.  

The reason why we wanted to share this piece with the global taiko community, is because perhaps, this piece may find its ending in another part of the world.

To our dear taiko friends in the world, we invite you to please tell us how this piece ends to you!"

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Composed by: HIBIKI WADAIKO

Hashtag(s) : #hibikiwadaiko

Contact：

• Email :  hibiki.wadaiko@gmail.com

Find us on YouTube, Facebook and Instagram:

​Song Title："Ittari kitari"

(Germany, Europe)

From the composer(s) & team:

"A part of my practice piece, which I composed to learn fluent movement forms.

It can be drummed with the X stand, but also in a normal position.

Basic rhythm and solo parts alternate between the two drummers and

promote their communication through the Taiko."

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Composed by:  Andreas Prescher - Kumano Taiko Dojo

​Music Score (download)

Hashtag(s) :  #行ったり来たり #Kumano Taiko Dojo #ittarikitari

Contact：

• Email :  taiko@prescher.net

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• Website: https://taiko.prescher.net/

​Song Title：" Remix!"

(U.S.A, North America)

From the composer(s) & team:

"Remix! is a very uptempo and lively song that serves as the finale of almost all La Jolla performances. With lots of interaction and energy among performing members, Remix! strives to connect those on stage, as well as with audience members, though an infectious groove and joyous atmosphere. 

Played with a fun "hip-hop" feel, Remix! got it's name by the wide variety of songs that it reminded our members of, blending together these combined experiences.

The included video shows only a shime solo in the middle of the song, but the included score contains an optional odaiko/nagadou solo as well. 

Please email with any questions, as we would love to see you enjoy playing Remix! as much as we do!"

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Composed by:  Chad Przymus

Hashtag(s) : #lajollataiko

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Contact：

• Email :  lajollataiko@gmail.com

• Webpage: www.lajollataiko.org

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​Song Title："ORIGENS"

(Brazil, South America &Niigata Prefecture, Sado City - JAPAN)

(Portuguese)

O nome Origens nasceu por ambos se inspirarem em ritmos que remetem sua terra natal. Yoohey Kaito (brasileiro) com o ritmo tradicional Maracatu, e Yuta Sumiyoshi (japonês) com o ritmo tradicional da sua região da província de Kagawa.

Tenho o Yuta Sumiyoshi como um irmão da música. Estudamos e vivenciamos juntos durante o estágio no grupo Kodo.

Compor esta música juntos, foi de uma alegria e satisfação enorme, onde pudemos desfrutar todo o processo de composição, sendo de uma harmonia e respeito mútuo desde o início ao fim com trocas de mensagens, ideias e gravações. Desfrutem da música Origens seja tocando ou ouvindo.

* É permitida a utilização quanto a alteração no arranjo da música.

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(English)

Yuta Sumiyoshi from Kodo (JAPAN) and Yoohey Kaito from Kaito Taiko (BRAZIL), are classmates from Kodo’s apprentice program.  They have co-created this piece, ORIGENS, through the internet to share with the larger taiko community!

It uses the Brazilian rhythm, Maracatu, and Yuta’s home shishimai rhythm as a base.

Feel the groove and floating melody!  Everyone is free to make arrangements to the piece :) 

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Composed by:  Yoohey Kaito , Yuta Sumiyoshi

Hashtag(s) : #ORIGENS

Contacts：

KODO

• Offical Website：  https://www.kodo.or.jp

• Yuta Sumiyoshi's email：yuta.sumiyoshi@kodo.or.jp

Kaito Taiko

• Official Website：  http://www.kaitotaiko.com.br

• Yoohey Kaito's email:　contato@kaitotaiko.com.br

​Song Title："Mugen"

(Miyagi Prefecture, Shiogamao City)

From the composer(s) & team:

"To share my piece through WTC, I have composed, performed, video recorded, and edited everything on my own.  The piece is called “Mugen”, which expressed a fleeting dream or illusion.  I personally think that music has no ending, and wanted to express being free of not always having an answer, letting the piece become fun and somewhat fleeting.

The piece is OK to arrange, including the katsugi-okedo solo.  I use a shinobue #5 for this piece."

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Composed by : Naito Tsuboe

Hashtag(s) : #taikomugen

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Contacts：

• Email：tsuboeknight@gmail.com

​Song Title："Kyoudai"

(Hungary, Europe)

From the composer(s) & team:

"Our friendship (István and Zsolt) began several years ago and became as strong as brotherhood.

 There are times when life is very simple, sometimes it turns into chaos. Though we always have each other to help. 

Kyoudai is our first composition which represents our connection. Originally it started as taiko practice and later we put every part into a structure. We couldn't miss our best Taiko friend Nóra to participate in this piece, so we expanded it with an atarigane part. This piece is about this road and how to make connections.

Feel free to learn, practice and play this piece. We would be happy to get feedback and your version of Kyoudai."

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Composed by : Zsolt Botfa and István Borbély

Hashtag(s) : #kyoudai

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Contacts：

• Email：zsolt.botfa@gmail.com

​Song Title："Uteya-Hayaseya"

(Japan)

From the composer(s) & team:

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"Congratulations for the WTC! We are sharing “Uteya-Hayaseya” by Tsuyoshi Maeda from kaDON x Hibikus course. “Uteya-Hayaseya” is a composition by Tsuyoshi Maeda based on the lively syncopated rhythm. In this course, Tsuyoshi will teach you the piece focusing on two of the parts: Nagado and the Okedo/Shime set parts. Please refer to the Full Score to challenge yourself to learn the other parts.The parts he teaches do not have too many fast, intricate rhythms, but has many spacious “ma” built in where Tsuyoshi features big body movements and arm swings. “Rhythm” is of course an important aspect of taiko, but “physicality” is also as important. Moving emotions lead to movements.

Tsuyoshi believes that taiko is not just a musical form, but also packed with peoples wishes and prayers, as well as love for someone or something that they hold dear.  In our daily lives, we may feel or experience joy and affection, and at times, anger or sadness. These real emotions within you move your heart and become physical movement and finally turn into sounds. Through this piece, Tsuyoshi hopes you can experiment with such an approach to taiko.Think of the movements and bachi swinging presented in this course as one option amongst many possibilities. If your heart takes you to move differently, that’s totally OK! Feel free to make your own arrangements and enjoy!

Tsuyoshi decided on the title “Uteya-Hayaseya” because he wanted this piece to be played and enjoyed without the need to strictly follow the score. ”Hayasu” is a Japanese term for “to cheer” Therefore, the piece is meant to be directed outwards such as your taiko friends that are playing with you, the audience, or it could even be directed towards something bigger, like nature and earth. To convey your feelings in the sound you create for that someone or something, is a concept that Tsuyoshi explores and cherishes.

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If you want to learn further, you can watch the full lesson on kaDON or you can contact kaDON for direct teaching from Tsuyoshi (limited to Japan for the time being)."

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Composed by : Tsuyoshi Maeda

Hashtag(s) : #tsuyoshimaeda #kadon #hibikus

Contacts：

• Email：info@kadon.com / uno@miyamoto-unosuke.co.jp

• Website: https://kadon.com/