Standing Between Worlds: Stuart Paton of Burlington Taiko.
Bristol — The unusual story behind the popular Burlington Taiko Group will be revealed during the One World Library Project program at the Lawrence Memorial Library in Bristol. On Thursday, Feb, 16, 7- 8:30 p.m., Stuart Paton, founder and artistic director of Burlington Taiko, will present “Big Drum: Stuart Paton’s Personal Story of Taiko, Japan and Vermont”.
Paton will share his personal story about studying and playing taiko as an American who grew up in Tokyo, and his experiences as a gaijin or outsider in Japan, in taiko, and in a way, in the United States.
Taiko—Japanese for "big drum"—is a relatively modern revival of ancient Japanese drumming traditions.
Taiko became part of Japanese culture around the year 500, and was used by spiritual healers to dispel evil spirits and drive insects from the rice fields.
Samurai employed taiko to instill fear in the enemy and develop courage. Over time, an unique choreography and rhythms developed to celebrate festivals or re-creations of historic events.
In the modern era, taiko has emerged as a performing art.
Seiichi Tanaka introduced Taiko to North America over 40 years ago. This grandmaster founded the first Taiko group in North America. His leadership and passion are largely responsible for the popularity of taiko today.
Paton began his formal study of taiko in 1984 during a summer apprenticeship with Tanaka; he founded the Burlington Taiko Group in 1986 not long after settling in Vermont.
Paton is also deeply involved in hand-drumming, something that has become another life-long pursuit for him. He started studying congas in eighth grade when he was in Japan and remembers teaching congas in Lincoln and Bristol in years past.
In addition to the Burlington Taiko Group, Paton co-founded and is the artistic director of Compaña Dancers and Drummers (Cuban Haitian), Orchestra Guayoyo (Cuban-Haitian), and was also the co-founder and musical director for Sambatucada (Brazilian). He has played with Kilamanjaro (jazz), Jeh Kulu Dance and Drum Ensemble (West African), San Francisco Taiko Dojo (Japanese), and the Sklar-Grippo Jazz Sextet.
Note: Annie Perkins contributed this news story.
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