The Beat Goes On

Percussion quartet OnnanoKo played at Rideau Hall as part of the Chamberfest 09 free concert series in Ottawa.
The Beat Goes On
Composer Dan Morphy watches as his work is performed by OnnanoKo. (Pam McLennan/The Epoch Times)
7/30/2009
Updated:
7/30/2009
<a href="https://www.theepochtimes.com/assets/uploads/2015/07/Drummer26_medium.jpg"><img src="https://www.theepochtimes.com/assets/uploads/2015/07/Drummer26_medium.jpg" alt="Movements are an integral part of taiko drumming as shown by Laura Chambers. (Pam McLennan/The Epoch Times)" title="Movements are an integral part of taiko drumming as shown by Laura Chambers. (Pam McLennan/The Epoch Times)" width="320" class="size-medium wp-image-90095"/></a>
Movements are an integral part of taiko drumming as shown by Laura Chambers. (Pam McLennan/The Epoch Times)
<a href="https://www.theepochtimes.com/assets/uploads/2015/07/Drummer46_medium.jpg"><img src="https://www.theepochtimes.com/assets/uploads/2015/07/Drummer46_medium-333x450.jpg" alt="Charlene Jack plays the odaiku (Pam McLennan/The Epoch Times)" title="Charlene Jack plays the odaiku (Pam McLennan/The Epoch Times)" width="320" class="size-medium wp-image-90096"/></a>
Charlene Jack plays the odaiku (Pam McLennan/The Epoch Times)
<a href="https://www.theepochtimes.com/assets/uploads/2015/07/DanMorphy_medium.jpg"><img src="https://www.theepochtimes.com/assets/uploads/2015/07/DanMorphy_medium-302x450.jpg" alt="Composer Dan Morphy watches as his work is performed by OnnanoKo. (Pam McLennan/The Epoch Times)" title="Composer Dan Morphy watches as his work is performed by OnnanoKo. (Pam McLennan/The Epoch Times)" width="320" class="size-medium wp-image-90097"/></a>
Composer Dan Morphy watches as his work is performed by OnnanoKo. (Pam McLennan/The Epoch Times)
OTTAWA—As part of Chamberfest 09, which kicked off on Saturday, one of the free concerts taking place around Ottawa over the weekend was presented by OnnanoKo, a percussion quartet, who played on the open grounds of Rideau Hall in conjunction with the Governor General’s Summer Concerts.

Fusion doesn’t begin to describe the music of this lively percussive group. They played Japanese drum music, an Irish reel, rudimentary drumming, and one piece that included spoken word alongside the Irish flute.

The ensemble of four young women played with fierce intensity, and the concentration this required showed on their faces. Taiko drumming includes stylized and synchronized movements and music that kept the audience of adults and children alike enthralled.

The group played a diverse range of drums including the taiko, snare, and Udu, played by Laura Savage. The Udu is an African drum that looks like a clay pot with openings that you might grow herbs in.

The four met and formed a bond while studying at the University of Toronto’s Faculty of Music. OnnanoKo means young woman in Japanese. Under the tutelage of the Kiyoshi Nagata Japanese taiko music ensemble, the group debuted in April 2004—then, as now, playing traditional, original, and newly arranged pieces.

At the Ottawa show, OnnanoKo debuted an original work by percussionist Dan Morphy that gave flautist Laura Chambers a workout. There were so many notes played at breakneck speed that it’s amazing she made it through the piece without needing a hit of oxygen. The crowd loved it, and it brought a smile to Morphy who was in the audience.

Each musician has her own skill set and takes centre stage to showcase a talent at various times throughout the show. As well as this group, the women work on other projects and with symphony orchestras. For instance, Savage is a musician, music educator, and the principal percussionist with the Northumberland Symphony Orchestra.

Founding member Charlene Jack plays drums, marimba, and is an expert on the bodhran, an Irish frame drum which she knows so well that it was the subject of her MA dissertation.

Laura Chambers plays the conch shell, the Irish flute, and various types of drums.

The larger the drum the wider the stance, as drumming requires physical effort—especially on the large taiko, called an odaiko (literally translated as big round drum), mounted on a stand so the player is pounding the drumskin above her head. The show ended with “Zoku,” a piece written by Kodu drummers, that featured a dramatic solo on the odaiko by Charlene Jack.

“This was our first big outdoor show and I want to thank you for your positive energy,” said Tricia Mangat before the farewell number.