NEWBRIDGE, 27 July 2002: by Bill Trapman. Europe's foremost exponent of the art of Taiko (Japanese drumming), Mugenkyo, will be performing at the Riverbank next Friday, August 2.
The group was established in 1994 on their return to Britain after two years of intensive training on the west coast of Japan, under Taiko master Masaaki Kurumaya. Mugenkyo perform over 100 concerts a year at theatres, arts centres and festivals, throughout Britain, Europe and Japan.
Using powerful Taiko rhythms, gentle percussion, costume and highly choreographed movement, Mugenkyo have developed a style of drumming with international appeal.
Taiko refers to both the modern art of taiko drumming (kumi-daiko), and to the taiko drums themselves. Taiko in the Japanese classical arts have a history spanning close to two thousand years.
The Friday event begins at 8pm 16/13 euros admission.
