Taiko no Iro
While practicing some taiko songs with my group mates, it occurred to me that we did not really know what we were playing – mostly because the songs are titled in kanji. So, as far as I could see, we were only drumming because it's what we learnt, not how we felt in the song. With that much understood I worked with my Japanese-speaking friends to unveil the true meaning of the songs we play as part of the Singapore Polytechnic Japanese Daiko Drummers, and hopefully translate that meaning into colour with a bit of explanation.
Haru Kaze (lit. 'Spring Breeze') is actually a song about going to war. But why pink? Back in the days of old, warriors had to leave their loved ones behind when reporting to the barracks. The pink represents the parting of ways under the cherry blossom tree, known to bloom only in spring.
Hanabi ('Fireworks') is a song relating to the enthusiastic Natsu Matsuri ('summer festivals') in Japan. Red, besides being a auspicious colour, represents the warm emotional atmosphere and the spirit of celebration in these Matsuri. Of course, traditional fireworks are also red.
Suigun (lit. "Water General") portrays the fierce Japanese Navy. The wave-like crescendos, synonymous of the firing of artillery cannons, visually represent the ebb and flow of waves at sea. Suigun was originally given a "greener" look, but strong pauses between segments reminded me of the calm before a storm, hence a paler blue.
Masaru ('Excel') was a difficult song to comprehend. The song, which shows a 14-armed 'monster' playing on 7 drums, exhibits a series of alternating speeds and volumes, along with sudden bursts of movement among slow and minute ones. The transition segment feels like that of a clock ticking, and the climax is like that of a montage for a hero's road to success. The appearance of the monster and the mysterious beat patterns thus earn Masaru its purple hue.
