Little Drummer Boy: A Rock/Taiko Fusion

Continuing in our Christmas trend of posting videos rather than actually writing something, here is another Christmas video. But this time, it's an original. I was approached by my pastor last week, and he asked me if I would play Taiko in our church's Christmas Party. This included writing a new piece, since my group's pieces require a minimum of 10 people. I chose to fuse taiko with another style of music and play to a CD. It turned out so well that I played it at my school's Christmas Party too, which is where the video comes from.

The song is "Drummer Boy" as arranged by Jars of Clay on their 1995 album. I chose the song because I felt that the lyrics really conveyed my spirit and gave the message I was trying to give. Taiko is still seen as "suspect" in a lot of churches, but with this song, I hope that there is no doubt that taiko can be played to honor the King. As the last few lines say: "I played my drum for him; I played my best for him. Then he smiled at me--me and my drum."



Lyrics (thank you to Takatori Masakazu for the Japanese translation):

Come they told me (来て、って言われた。)
Ba rum pa pum pum (バランパパンパン)
A newborn king to see (新しい王が生まれたよ。)
Ba rum pa pum pum (バランパパンパン)
Our finest gifts we bring (最高のもてなしを持って)
Ba rum pa pum pum (バランパパンパン)
To lay before the king (王様の前に捧げて)
Ba rum pa pum pum (バランパパンパン)
rum pa pum pum (ランパパンパン)
rum pa pum pum (ランパパンパン)
So to honor Him (その方を称えるために)
Ba rum pa pum pum (バランパパンパン)
When we come (みんなで来るとき)

Little Baby (小さな赤ちゃん)
Ba rum pa pum pum (バランパパンパン)
I am a poor boy too (僕も貧しい男の子だよ)
Ba rum pa pum pum (バランパパンパン)
I have no gift to bring (おみやげなんかもっていけない)
Ba rum pa pum pum (バランパパンパン)
That’s fit to give a king (王様にはそれが一番いいかも)
Ba rum pa pum pum (バランパパンパン)
rum pa pum pum (ランパパンパン)
rum pa pum pum (ランパパンパン)
Shall I play for you (遊んであげようか)
Ba rum pa pum pum (バランパパンパン)
On my drum? (僕の太鼓で)

Mary nodded (マリアさんがうなずき)
Ba rum pa pum pum (バランパパンパン)
The ox and lamb kept time (雄牛と子羊がたわむれ)
Ba rum pa pum pum (バランパパンパン)
I played my drum for Him (僕の太鼓を奏でてあげて)
Ba rum pa pum pum (バランパパンパン)
I played my best for Him (僕の得意な曲を弾いてあげた。)
Ba rum pa pum pum (バランパパンパン)
rum pa pum pum (ランパパンパン)
rum pa pum pum (ランパパンパン)
Then He smiled at me (そしたら王様は僕に笑ってくれた)
Ba rum pa pum pum (バランパパンパン)
Me and my drum. (僕と僕の太鼓。)

A Christmas Video by Sufjan Stevens

When Sufjan had a concert in Tokyo early this year this year a good friend of ours was in the show so my family got complimentary tickets; we all loved it. Rather quirky and a lot of fun, it was the first concert that my eleven year old daughter really enjoyed.

I want to wish readers a "Merry Christmas!" I hope you enjoy this delightful video by Sufjan.

Christmas Cheer

Japanese ingenuity will never cease to amaze me. Take, for example, turning your produce section into a wind ensemble. Enjoy this... unique... rendition of "Angels We Have Heard on High," and have a great Christmas season!