RAS Lecture Meeting
January 12, 2005
Wednesday, 7:30 p.m.
"The Sound of Samul-nori"
By Mr. Alan Heyman
The Auditorium of Daewoo Foundation Bldg, 3rd Floor
(대우 재단 빌딩, 강당 3층)
January 12, 2005
Wednesday, 7:30 p.m.
"The Sound of Samul-nori"
By Mr. Alan Heyman
The Auditorium of Daewoo Foundation Bldg, 3rd Floor
(대우 재단 빌딩, 강당 3층)
The RAS will once again welcome in the new year with a program of Korean traditional music – this time featuring the exciting, fabulous, and spectacular sounds of samul-nori, the percussion ensemble of changgo (Hourglass- shaped drum), puk (round barrel-shaped drum), kwaenggari(small gong), and ching (large gong) presented by the Aura Corea Co with Alan Heyman, Korean music specialist, on hand to talk about the music an answer any questions you might have.
It is said that whereas Western rhythms originate from the pulse, Korean music stems from the breath, and nowhere is this more evident than in samul-nori, Korea’s most beloved and well-known form of folk music, whose popularity has extended far beyond Korea’s borders to practically every corner on the world.
Originating from farmers music, in which the instruments symbolically represented the sounds of thunder, lightning, and rain, samul-nori was created for the stage using only the four basic instruments to express the rhythmic essence emanating from every region of the country in a concert form that today is played by students in practically every elementary, middle, high school and university throughout the land.
Whereas western music concentrated on developing harmony, Korean folk music has devoted itself to developing a rhythmic improvisational form that, we’re sure, will captivate you from the moment you hear the ku-koong-ddak! (sound of the changgo drum)
So come and listen. You may even want to try playing yourself. Who knows… we may even be able to create an RAS samul-nori of our own. In any case, it should be a very interesting and entertaining night for all.
Mr. Alan Heyman is an expert of traditional music and translator of Mu-ga: The Ritual Songs of Korean Mudangs. (2003)
* Refreshments will be served after the meeting.
