What a yamaweekend! :) We had an amazing weekend full of Taiko! Did you happen to hear some drums around Ithaca? It might have been us!
Before I begin to tell you about the weekend, I’m going to explain the term “yamaweekend” a little bit. We tend to add the prefix “yama” to noun and it becomes a Yamatai-related thing, event, or so on. For instance, the apartment where three Yamatai members reside is called the yamapartment. And we are having a yamawedding in the near future!
Also, I would like to introduce myself a little bit here. My name is Ingrid and I am a second year Yamatai member. I grew up in the city of Taipei, Taiwan, so please excuse me for any grammatical errors as I share the stories of Yamatai with you.
Esther, McKellen, Tyler, Leo, Alice and staff at South Hill Elementary School
On Friday, March 9th, five of us went to South Hill Elementary School to teach Taiko workshop. We saw a lot of potential in the new generation and had a great time with the 3rd, 4th and 5thgraders! After performing a short piece, we talked about our drums and taught some cool rhythms. Some students even came on stage to try playing!
The next morning we began our video filming project! In order to publicize for the concert, we decided to make a promotion video. The video crew, which consists of me, Scott, Abhi, Alice, and Samson, planned a packed weekend of filming and photo shooting. Around 10am on Saturday, we began to transport some drums during a light snow flurry. We brought the drums up to Cornell Plantations and played Miyake between the two ponds. It was so cold that our fingers were numb and could barely hold our bachi tightly… but we made it! The sun finally began to pop out as we played more songs.
Yamatai playing Wave at Beketsev on Saturday, March 10, 2012
The day continues with more Taiko! At night, we had a performance at Beketsev, an international dance and music show in Barnes Hall. We played the song “Wave,” originally a piece from Bonten. There were only three people on stage, playing three different parts that are called fire (ka), earth (chi), and wind (kaze). These three essential elements have very distinct characteristics: representing the passion, the stability, and the freedom of movement, respectively. Throughout the song, the three people dispersed into their own parts, and then they merge together as an intense harmony… It was a very fun piece to watch and to play!
On Sunday morning at 9am, before the library even opened, Yamatai resumed filming! It was a gorgeous day and we were playing drums all around Beebe Lake.
Jackie and Carol at Beebe Lake waterfall
We even carried an okedo (roped barrel drum, see picture below) close to the gorge to play Miyake. The running waterfall in the background seems to create a great contrast with the particular style of drumming. Water (sui), the fourth element, represents the fluid, formless adaptability. On the other hand, Miyake is a very down to earth and traditional style. The contrast was brilliant- I enjoyed it a lot and took tons of pictures!
Afterwards, we went to Johnson Museum’s Japanese garden to film chappa and fue. The river made out of rocks in the Japanese garden is probably a better visualization of what I meant by the contrast—a beautiful combination of the elements. Then, after more than 24 hours of Yamatai, we ended the filming on the libe slope, while trying not to disturb people who were taking naps on the grass. J
Alicia and Carol at Japanese Garden at Johnson Museum
A big THANK YOU to not only the people who came to the performance, but also to the people who slowed down their busy footsteps to listen to us and even ask us question during our filming.
This weekend was not only a memorable weekend of Yamatai, but it was also a day which Japanese, and the whole world, would never forget—it is the one year anniversary of the March 11th Japanese Earthquake. Last year, Yamatai had donated half of the concert proceeds to Japan, and we sincerely give our warmest regards across the Pacific Ocean.
-Ingrid
