BETHEL – The powerful, thunderous sounds of Taiko drums will echo throughout Bingham Hall at Gould Academy when the Burlington Taiko performs at 7 p.m. Friday, Feb. 16.

Taiko is an ancient Japanese form of drumming that was incorporated into the sacred and religious ceremonies of every Japanese village, and also used as a means of practical communication.

Rural villages would establish its boundaries by how far villagers could hear the big drum. Farmers would use the drums to drive pests from their fields. In Buddhism, the sound of the drums represented the voice of Buddha. During times of war, the drums were used to signal men to battle.

The modern practice of Taiko utilizes extensive physical and mental conditioning to forge a group, which works synergistically to create the vibrant sound and powerful rhythms that express Taiko.

The Burlington Taiko performs in the Tanaka style, which incorporates mesmerizing movements from the martial arts along with exhilarating drumbeats to create a joyous, harmonious expression of the human spirit.

The Burlington Taiko was formed in 1987, under the leadership of Stuart Paton, who has studied and performed extensively with the San Francisco Taiko Dojo.

Tickets to the performance presented by the Gould Academy Performing Arts Series are $4 for students, $6 for adults available at the door the night of the show. For reservations or information about tickets, call 824-3575. Bingham Hall is on the academy’s Church Street campus.