At this point, the writer is considering adding the fol- lowing sentence to the essay: Hand drums like the kotsuzumi are more common in Japanese classical music than in kumi-daiko. Given that the information is accurate, should the writer make this addition? able to drum with speed. made to meet a specific drummer’s style. daiko performances. size of taiko drums. Question 30 asks about the preceding passage as a whole. PASSAGE III Marathon Drummers In 1960s Japan, kumi-daiko or ensemble drumming, became a phenomenon. They were inspired by ancient Japanese rituals and modern jazz, the ensembles performed at festivals throughout Japan. The enormous taiko drums, some of which weigh nearly 900 pounds— and the physically demanding routines of the performers astonished audiences. Using a full range of motion, the standing ensembles swung their bachi (drumsticks) onto the drums’ deerskin surfaces. B They drummed with speed and force, always maintaining perfect rhythm. For educator Den Tagayasu, the value of kumi-daiko was not only in its art, but also in the self-discipline needed to perform it. In 1969, Den started Ondekoza, a school on the Japanese island of Sado, and required that his students adopt the principle of Sogakuron. 31 32 33 www.actexam.net www.crackab.com Roughly translated, Sogakuron states that running and kumi-daiko is one, a union reflecting the drama and the energy of life. Den was no easy taskmaster. He demanded his students begin and end each day by running long distances. In between, they practiced kumi-daiko for hours. To motivate them, his students were assured that their self-discipline would allow them to travel the world, glorifying Japanese culture. In 1975, Den made good on his promise. In its international debut, the Ondekoza ensemble gave a performance in Boston; immediately after the drummers had run the Boston Marathon. Therefore, as they performed their signature piece, Yatai-bayashi, the drummers didn’t seem to be even a tad bit drained. The dramatic drumming, coupled by the performers’ staggering degree of endurance, inspired Japanese American communities to start their own kumi-daiko groups. I Through the decades, Ondekoza exhausted numerous “marathon tours.” In 1998,
