Blog Posts

Rise

Date Composed: 2019 Composer: Tony Nguyen Premiere Performance: Sunday, March 3, 2019 The intense light from th sun as it breaks the horizon calls us to start the day.  A solo featuring Kiyoshi Nagata represents the powerful sunlight that fills us with life and energy. ...

Kitsunetsuki

Date Composed:2013Composer:Tony NguyenPremiere Performance:November 22, 2013 - Enwave TheatreRecording Title:Hymus Road CD Kitsunetsuki literally means the state of being possessed by a fox. In ancient Japan, it was believed that those into whom the fox spirit entered (always young woman) would display strange and unusual behaviour....

Formations

Date Composed: 2017 Composer: Tony Nguyen Premiere Performance: April 7, 2017 - Aki Studio Theatre ...

LIVE!

Date Composed:2014Composer:Tony NguyenPremiere Performance:October 14, 2014 - Fleck Dance Theatre, Toronto The word ‘live’ just like this piece, has two different pronunciations and meanings: One example is “to live in the moment”, as when the performers on stage are sharing their joyous spirit with the audience....

Uchouten

Date Composed:2007Composer:Kiyoshi NagataArrangement:Kiyoshi NagataPremiere Performance:December 1, 2007 - Ryerson TheatreRecording Title:Tsuzure CD In Japan, the taiko has always been played in times of celebration and joy, especially during ‘matsuri’ or festival time. This song attempts to convey the state of ecstasy and rapture (UCHOUTEN) one feels...

Iwao

Date Composed:2017Composer:Tony NguyenPremiere Performance:November 18, 2017 The moonlight is an alluring force that draws in three drummers.  Like waves crashing against boulders in high tide, they tirelessly pound at the drums in their pursuit of the moon. ...

Uchiwa Daiko

Date Composed:1998Composer:Kiyoshi NagataArrangement:Kiyoshi Nagata - Choreographed by Aki Takahashi (2006) and Kiyoshi Nagata (2011)Premiere Performance:November 28, 1998 - Music GalleryRecording Title:Stone Path CD Taiko are naturally constructed in a circular shape. Devoid of all corners, the simplicity of this shape mirrors that of the moon and...

Enjou

Date Composed:2008Composer:Aki Takahashi and Kiyoshi NagataArrangement:Aki Takahashi and Kiyoshi NagataPremiere Performance:November 29, 2008 - Ryerson TheatreRecording Title:10th Anniversary Concert DVD Literally meaning ‘to go up in flames’, this song expresses the fiery nature within each drummer to play with wild and heartfelt abandon. ...

Ya Hoi

Date Composed: 2019 Composer: Aki Takahashi Premiere Performance: Sunday, March 3, 2019 ...

Tsuzure

Date Composed:2006Composer:Kiyoshi NagataArrangement:Kiyoshi NagataPremiere Performance:October 13, 2006 - Al Green TheatreRecording Title:Tsuzure CD / 10th Anniversary Concert DVD The word TSUZURE conveys a number of different meanings such as to write or to weave. It also implies the taking of one’s time in each step of...