by Sarah Fentem

The name of traditional Japanese drum ensemble Kodo, translated, means “heartbeat.” The name has proved a perfect fit for the ensemble, whose performances are frequently described by critics as “athletic” and “visceral.”

Kodo’s One Earth Tour makes a stop at Orchestra Hall this Wednesday, is a group comprised of master taiko drummers. Taiko, which simply means drum in Japanese, is a traditional Japanese musical style which uses drums of multiple sizes, most notably ones with enormous heads many feet in diameter. The result is a thunderous performance that is both startling and invigorating.

Tamasaburo Bando, a Kabuki actor legendary in Japan for his nuanced portrayals of females, joined Kodo as the group’s artistic director in April 2012. Under Bando, Kodo has blended deeply traditional taiko styles with more contemporary influences.

Because of the mammoth size of the instruments, the performance is as much of an visual spectacle as an aural experience. Says Bando, “Facing the taiko, having acquired sufficient technique and control, players can forget their body, awareness, desires, hopes, and egos the moment they reach that state of oneness, and everyone who is present will share that indescribable sense of transcendence.”

Kodo’s One World Tour is presented by the Chicago Symphony Orchestra. For tickets and more information, call (312) 294-3000 or visit CSO.org.