SENRYU TAIKO
Making noise since 1998!
15th annual spring concertishin denshin
Ishin Denshin, translated to “heart-to-heart”, is an old East Asian idiom that refers to the deep unspoken connection between friends, family, and us–Senryu. Throughout this year, taiko has served as the catalyst to our “ishin-denshin” connection, bridging relationships between former, current, and new members. Although this year has had its own set of challenges, the endless support from Senryu and the taiko community at large has reminded us that we are never alone in any challenge we face.
Senryu
Making noise since 1998! Senryu Taiko is one of the earliest intercollegiate taiko groups to ever form in the United States. Self-taught and self-sustained, the club continues the tradition of kumidaiko by writing music together, teaching incoming members, and forming ties with other collegiate taiko groups across the nation.Attached is each of our active gens being a little silly
We Perform!
We are available for performances throughout the year! If interested, please email us with the following information:
SENRYU TAIKO
Making noise since 1998!
About
Making noise since 1998! Senryu Taiko is one of the earliest intercollegiate taiko groups to ever form in the United States. Self-taught and self-sustained, the club continues the tradition of kumidaiko by writing music together, teaching incoming members, and forming ties with other collegiate taiko groups across the nation.Senryu Taiko is an intercollegiate Taiko group, meaning that it was founded and has been maintained by college students. There are countless other intercollegiate Taiko groups throughout North America, and nearly every University of California campus is home to an intercollegiate Taiko group. Senryu Taiko is composed of college students who have spent a year or more learning Taiko-playing techniques and applied those techniques to teaching newcomers and writing Taiko music exclusive to Senryu Taiko. One unique aspect of Senryu Taiko, an aspect that is rare amongst the intercollegiate Taiko community, is that members of the group build the Taiko used in rehearsal and performance. Thus, Senryu Taiko does not purchase professional, manufactured Taiko, but instead builds Taiko from scratch using wine-barrels and traditional Taiko-making techniques.
SENRYU TAIKO
Making noise since 1998!
What is Taiko?
Taiko is an energetic and physically-demanding form of percussion which initiated in various regions of Japan. Although Taiko is often referred to as “Japanese drumming,” the word Taiko itself means “big drum,” or “fat drum,” depending on the translation. Taiko has Japanese roots spanning over 1,500 years, yet Taiko as we know it today, commonly referred to as American Taiko, would not be developed until the mid-20th century.
Taiko History
In Ancient Japan, Taiko was used mostly for war, rather than musical performance. Much like drummers boys in the American military, Japanese armies would have a soldier carry a drum and maintain a beat that could keep the soldiers moving at the same pace. Japanese armies also used drums to intimidate their foes, making their armies seem gargantuan in size and strength. Some speculations suggest that Taiko were used to signify the borders of Japanese villages. The drums would be played continuously throughout the day, to create an aural boundary between villages. When people traveled from one village to another, they would heard the rhythms of the Taiko, and it became clear they were entering a new village. This technique was implemented in other forms of communication as well, such as the coming of storms or intrusions by undesired travelers. Taiko was also applied in religious ceremonies, since the resonant tones produced by a struck drum resembled the sounds of gods and the heavens.In ancient Taiko playing, only one drummer played at a time; rarely, if ever, did multiple drummers play at the same time in the same place. In 1951, a jazz drummer named Daihachi Oguchi discovered a composition of Ancient Taiko music from Japan. As an ensemble musician, Oguchi wondered why Taiko music featured only solo performances. Oguchi ambitiously decided to break this so-called tradition, and arranged the ancient Taiko composition for multiple drummers. Following the design of a drum set, Oguchi assigned each drum a specific role, depending on its size and pitch. For instance, the high-pitched shime-daiko would play the ji (a repetitive rhythm used to maintain timing), much like a hi-hat. The large, thick-skinned Odaiko would play a simple rhythm to maintain the pulse, much like a bass drum. A mixture of various nagado-daiko (medium-sized drums) would then make up the rhythmic melodies of the piece, much like a snare drum and tom-toms. Oguchi’s ambitious experiment revolutionized the art of Taiko, and resulted in a boom of the kumidaiko (taiko ensemble) style throughout Japan. Over 4,000 Taiko groups have formed in Japan as a result of Diahachi Oguchi’s influence.As Japanese taiko groups began touring internationally, musicians in North America, Canada, Australia, Europe and even Brazil became interested in Taiko and began forming their own Taiko groups. Until 1968, Taiko was seen in America primarily in the form of Miyadaiko (temple drums), for use in martial arts dojos. In 1968, a Japanese immigrant named Seiichi Tanaka formed the first North American Taiko group. Much like Diahachi Oguchi, Tanaka would influence the formation of kumidaiko in North America (now commonly referred to as American Taiko) with his group, San Francisco Taiko. Two other Taiko groups were formed shortly after San Francisco Taiko, including Kinnara Taiko of Los Angeles in 1969, and San Jose Taiko in 1973. Both have become professional Taiko groups, and have paid respect to traditional kumidaiko by touring Japan. An estimated 200 Taiko groups now exist in North America.
SENRYU TAIKO
Making noise since 1998!
Below you'll find each song Senryu still actively performs and a little bit of history about each song, all videos were recorded and performed during our 14th Annual Spring Concert
Into the Jungle
Matsuri
Translating to "Festival" this is a taiko piece originating in Japan and is played across all taiko
groups, with every taiko group playing their own unique version of this piece. This piece is a cheerful overview
into the world of taiko, and is meant to be enjoyed by both the players and the audience alike!
Mukashi Mukashi
Translating to “Once Upon a Time”, Mukashi Mukashi is inspired by Reverend Tom Kurai’s “Riverside Bayashi.”
This song marks the beginning of Senryu Taiko at UCR and creates an uplifting experience
for both the taiko players and the audience.
Nanohana
fall winter spring
As Spring emerges in Japan, the snow begins to melt and small, yellow, wildflowers called nano hana begin to spring from the earth calling, "The earth is waking up!"
Totsugeki Seyo
Encompassing power and spirit, this song is meant to
simulate the passion of soldiers charging into battle.
Watch as the players rally together and charge
forward with explosive energy.
Tatsumaki
The elements of this song contrast the pristine silence
before an approaching storm with the raging winds
that follow. The tornado picks up speed as it draws
near, but departs just as quickly as it arrived.
kataki
Kataki means “Rival,” and that is what this song centers
around; it is a series of shifts and challenges which explore
the movement and dynamics of diehard rivalries. The
inspiration behind the rhythms of “Kataki” was drawn
from many places, but most strongly from a piece of
music which was a certain rock band’s response to the
European underground dance scene. Enjoy the beats!
Kodama Jam
Kodama is inspired by Kappa Jam, written by Joe
Hockel in 2004. Literally translated, “Kodama” means
“echo” in Japanese. However, in Japanese folklore,
Kodama are small, playful spirits that inhabit trees.
Listen as the taiko drums echo the cheerful, energetic
song of the kodama!
Ichi Ji
Even if it makes more sense for the day to begin at
1:00AM, pin pointing the beginning the day is
useless since the days are (after all) cyclical.
Bara Renbu
A coming of age song symboliing the journey that a taiko player undergoes.
The start of the song reflects a fledging player, grasping the fundamentals, but as the song finishes players have showcased everything they've learned.
San Roku Go hachi
Meaning “Three Six Five-Eight,” San Roku Go Hachi is a song in which the time
signatures constantly change, keeping performers on their toes
and providing a dynamic and interesting experience for the audience.
Korekara
Translating to "From Now On" Korekara is a common piece that has been performed by many North American Taiko groups. This song honors the path that has been paved by many of our predescors in taiko-playing history while looking with excitement towards the future.
Omiyage
Translating to "Gift" and the referring to the Japanese tradition of gift giving, Omiyage is seen as a gift to the taiko community, a celebration of our love for the art of taiko, and of the sharing attitude of the North American Taiko Community.
SENRYU TAIKO
Making noise since 1998!
23-24 Performances
winter quarter performances
fall quarter performances
SENRYU TAIKO
Making noise since 1998!
spring concerts
spring concert 2022
A production inspired by the wild nature and characters that have come to define Senryu Taiko in recent memory. Enjoy the sounds and sensations reminiscent of nature's finest while causing a ruckus carving our own path in this jungle
spring concert 2021
Kikoeru? きこえる? directly
translates to “Can You Hear Me?”Although most people can hear the
beating of the drums, we ask our
audience if they are able to hear
the voices and the lived experiences of those who are playing themThis year, in their 13th annual Spring Concert, Senryu Taiko would like to present “Kikoeru? きこえる?” to empower the voices of the Asian American & Pacific Islander (AAPI) community and combat the stereotypes that are embedded into our lives. Self-taught and self-sustained, Senryu Taiko would like to create a space for representation and social justice for minorities in the United States with our music.
spring concert 2019
Ittekimasu (いってきます) is a phrase one would use to announce their departure, usually when leaving home. However, it’s not simply “I’m leaving” as there’s an intent to return. This year in their 12th annual Spring Concert, Senryu Taiko would like to present “Ittekimasu” to showcase our journey since leaving The Barn Theater, and despite trials and tribulations met along the way, we still stand strong and inured by all these hardships to one day be able to return home.
spring concert 2018
Godai(五大）is a japanese philosophy on the creation of the universe formed by the five great elements: Earth(地), Water(水), Fire(火), Wind(風), and the Void(空).This year will be the 11th annual concert where Senryu Taiko will be sharing pieces we have created throughout the years, from the earliest of our establishment to the newest and yet to be seen.
spring concert 2017
In Japanese, Kaisou (回想) means to reminisce.This year will be the 10th annual concert where Senryu Taiko will be sharing pieces we have created throughout the years, from the earliest of our establishment to the newest and yet to be seen.Come join us on our trip down memory lane.
spring concert 2015-16
SENRYU TAIKO
Making noise since 1998!
How to support senryu taiko?
Senryu taiko is a self-sustained group which means that all of the funds we raise go towards spreading the art and culture of Japanese drumming to our community. We use our funds for buying and repairing equipment (drums, bachi, and costumes); transporting members to performances; and supplying other necessary gears to our members.
This page is dedicated to showcasing how to support us, so if you would like to support Senryu taiko check out the links above. Thank you for your support!
SENRYU TAIKO
Making noise since 1998!
Recent fundraisers
contact us?
If you would like to contact us, please email us at [email protected]. We will happily answer any questions you may have about our organization.We are also available for performances throughout the year! If interested, please email us with the following information
Your name
Name of the event
Date and time of the event
Performance duration
Staging size/area
Type of audience
Any other information you feel would help the performance planning process go smoothly!
We look forward to performing with you!