Once believed to be the thunder of Buddha, native Japanese taiko drumming has "boomed" its way to South Florida.
History tells us that taiko, otherwise known as "Fat Drum," has been used in Japan for more than 1,400 years but didn't surface in the United States until the 1950s. The drums were often played to scare off the enemy in battle and were linked with the gods in Japan's many religions, such as Buddhism and Shinto. In villages and holy places, a single taiko was hit with bachis (drumsticks), and it wasn't until 1951 that Kumi-Daiko, which is a taiko ensemble, was born. Today, groups all over the world have made this ancient holy drum an expression of music and dance.
Local group Fushu Daiko takes you through a journey of the elements of taiko style in a show at the Morikami Museum and Japanese Gardens (4000 Morikami Park Rd., Delray Beach) at 7:30 p.m. The concert features music by Jorge Alfano and Yoshiko Carlton along with the creative dance styles of Roy and Malia Anderson. A dozen talented musicians and dancers on-stage bring the elements of our planet to you with a boom. Call 561-495-0233. -- Beth Kirkpatrick
FRI 6/20
Munchausen Syndrome
PBICA presents an erstwhile Monty Python film
The Palm Beach Institute of Contemporary Art has been offering movie buffs a slew of cult classics in recent months with its "Cine al Fresco" events, and the current selection proves no different as the museum presents The Adventures of Baron Munchausen at 8:30 p.m. Directed by Terry Gilliam, Munchausen hit theaters in 1989 to a lackluster response. But its cult status was never in doubt, particularly in Britain, where the real Baron Karl Friedrich Hieronymous von Munchausen and his bizarre claims were better-known. In the film, Gilliam presents the tales as truth, from riding on a cannonball to ballooning to the moon. As expected, hilarity ensues. Takes place in the 500 block of Clematis Street. Admission is free. Call 561-582-0006. -- Dan Sweeney