March 3 , 2004—The Portland Taiko Ensemble will bring the high energy and thundering sound of Japanese taiko drums to Oberlin College's Finney Chapel Tuesday, March 16, at 8 p.m. Finney Chapel is located on the corner of Professor and Lorain streets.

One of the most highly regarded taiko ensembles in North America, the group tours extensively and was recently featured on National Public Radio's Morning Edition as a leader and innovator in taiko music. 

Entrancing audiences with the power of the Japanese drum, the flash of choreographed movement, the subtlety of the violin and bamboo flute, and the laughter of irreverent storytelling, the performers weave rhythm, melody, humor and movement together into an exhilarating musical experience, playing drums that weigh up to 300 pounds.

Taiko, the Japanese word for drum and the name of the art form, has its roots in ancient Japanese tradition and was used in religious ceremonies, community festivals and theater. The boundaries of villages were defined by the distance from which the community taiko could be heard.

American taiko was born in the late 1960s and early 1970s in the midst of the Civil Rights Movement and efforts to establish ethnic studies on college campuses. Portland Taiko is dedicated to educating their audience about the Asian American experience, and its members have written works exploring the history of Asians in America.

One of their most poignant pieces, "A Place Called Home," delves into the internment of Japanese Americans during World War II; this work incorporates slides and the recorded voices of former internees into a powerful work about remembrance, honor, and justice.

The Oberlin performance is sponsored by the Oberlin Shansi Student Committee, Oberlin Shansi, and various student organizations.

Advance tickets—$10 for the general public and $8 for senior citizens—are available from the College's Central Ticket Service (CTS) box office, open noon to 5 p.m. Mon. through Fri., or telephone the CTS 24-hour reservation line (440) 775-8169. Tickets will be $12 and $10 at the door.