Beats of Passion

It’s easy to figure out why Japanese wadaiko drummers have such great bodies. Ripples of some invisible energy,it seems,travel through their toned muscles to erupt in a confident boom. They move about the stage in confident,assertive sweeps,adding a dash of drama to their performance. The sound that is produced with skin drum heads tautened by ropes and beaten on both sides,is as primeval as the animal-like movements of the performers.

Indeed,a wadaiko recital,unlike other classical music recitals,is not something you can listen to with your eyes closed. The wadaiko performance by the Japanese ensemble,Abeya,this Tuesday at the ICCR auditorium,proved that this ancient art form is a visual extravaganza,which is aided by some great music.

Cunning lighting and colourful costumes complimented the performance,and the five performers were sleek in black and gold as they delighted the audience with their joie de vivre. They are wonderful communicators too,the male soloists particularly,parading like peacocks as they induced the audience to clap different rhythms without uttering a word.

Is it a wonder then that the cheering crowd was left asking for more even after two encore performances?