For this year’s virtual Mochitsuki, Portland Taiko will present two pieces it recorded in the summer of 2020 for its collaboration with the musical group No-No Boy: “To Fly” at the Dion Vineyards near Hillsboro and “All Is Well,” recorded at the Oregon Buddhist Temple and a farm in the Gorge.
Portland Taiko will also present its musical tribute to its co-founder, Valerie Otani, who passed away in February 2020. The melody was written by co-founder Zack Semke and uses the Okinawan musical scale—Valerie’s mother’s family immigrated to the United States from Okinawa.
About Portland Taiko
Portland Taiko blends the tradition of Japanese taiko drumming with a sense of Asian American identity, creativity, and empowerment. Since its formation in 1994, Portland Taiko has headlined at arts festivals and concert halls, released three CDs, and commissioned and collaborated with numerous artists. Despite the pandemic, the group continues to rehearse and teach online. For further information, visit its website: portlandtaiko.org.
