A very important component of traditional Japanese music, Hayashi is the percussion and flute accompaniment to Japanese classical Kabuki music and dance. In 1986, Mikko Haggot-Hensen was granted her professional name "Katada Kikusa" by Grand Master Katada Kisaku, a "Living National Treasure" in Japan, and now heads Katada-Kai of USA, the only percussion group providing Kabuki music in Los Angeles. Because an ensemble plays this music form, the learning process requires musicians working together. This apprenticeship involves three of Katada Kikusa's students-Yuko Ohara, Yoshiyo Matsumoto, and Dean Okinaka-who will each enhance their skills on individual percussive instruments while learning more of the traditional repertoire which is always memorized and never noted on paper. Read more on the Japanese Traditional Performing Arts Organization Website.
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The complexity of the music requires that the Hayashi ensemble practice weekly for two to three hours at a time. |
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Mme. Katada (left) leading her students on the taiko, a double-headed drum that is played with sticks.
Read more about the taiko |
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The ko-tsuzumi, hour-glass drum, is played at the shoulder and is stuck by the hand.
Read more about the ko-tsuzumi |
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Mme. Katada taps out the patterns of the hayashi music using sticks that represent each of the instruments. She uses mnemonics to help the musicians remember their parts.
Read more about hayashi ensembles of the Noh theater |
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