Botelle School Hosts Japanese Drum Players
Principal and Students Take to the Stage to Beat Their Own Drums
Taiko means “drum” in Japanese but in this country generally refers to a traditional style of Japanese drumming on a variety of percussion instruments. In a lively session in Botelle’s auditorium on December 9, the One World Taiko ensemble demonstrated the heart-pounding beats, dynamic movement and rhythmic grooves of the ancient festival drumming tradition. The school’s principal, Matthew O’Connell, was called to the stage to beat on the large, barrel-shaped drums, where, under expert coaching, he quickly displayed a surprising adeptness. He was joined by a number of Botelle students who efforlessly got into the spirit of taiko. The performers, a husband-and-wife team, interwove elements Japanese language and lore into their display. The event was funded by the Botelle School PTO.
Photographs by Savage Frieze.