Rites of Thundering by Kenny Endo is a piece performed by the Kenny Endo Taiko Ensemble. The Taiko is referred to as any type of drum in the form of art where the entire ensemble plays on the drums in a performative manner while still making beats on the drums purposefully. The piece begins with a dramatic dance of 2 people in the center with the largest drum where one of the preformed strikes the drum. Following the strike of the drum, it causes many other performers to start rolling on their taiko. Throughout the whole piece, the performers are performative(dancing) while they are playing by making bigger and more spread out strokes to very quick ones with their body moving with it or completely stiff. Towards the end, it is amazing to see how in sync everyone is together and how their patterns flow so well together the expression they put into the last strokes is a good way to end the piece with a dramatic strike with all power possible.

Rites of Thundering by Kenny Endo