PROGRAM

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1. Gayageum Sanjo 산조

Sanjo is a prominent Korean instrumental genre characterized by its performance with drum accompaniment, typically a janggu. This genre consists of five movements, each organized by distinct rhythmic patterns that progress from slow to fast tempos. Sanjo is unique in that each melodic instrument has its own version tailored to its characteristics. Tonight, Jung-Hee Oh will showcase the gayageum sanjo. The gayageum is a traditional 12-string zither, renowned for its rich, resonant sound and versatility in traditional Korean music.

 

2. Chimhyangmu 침향무

“Chim Hyang Mu” is a representative composition of the gayageum, created by the gayageum master Hwang Byeonggi, who developed new tuning methods and unique playing techniques for the gayageum. The name “Chim Hyang Mu” expresses the sentiment of Asia, meaning a dance performed in a place scented with the noble fragrance “Chim Hyang” from India.

Master Hwang Byeonggi transferred traditional gayageum melodies, which had been orally transmitted, into Western notation and laid the foundation for Korean traditional music education. He is the most prominent performer and composer of the gayageum.

Comprising three movements, “Chim Hyang Mu '' features a wide variety of tempos, rhythms, and changes. It introduces new gayageum tuning and playing techniques, departing from traditional playing methods and scales of Sanjo (traditional music genre, usually a solo piece for a specific instrument with a free and expanded format)

 

3. Gayageum Byeongchang: Sarangga (Love Song) 사랑가

Gayageum Byeongchang is a highly sophisticated Korean traditional musical genre in which the performer sings while accompanying herself on the gayageum, a traditional Korean zither. This demanding art form can only be performed by artists trained in both pansori and gayageum sanjo. Today, Gayageum Byeongchang is the only remaining style of byeongchang (self-accompanied singing) in Korean traditional music.

Its origins trace back to the 19th-century pansori masters, and its repertoire typically includes pieces from pansori, dan-ga (pre-pansori vocal warm-up songs), and Korean folk songs.

Achieving a refined balance between vocal expression and instrumental sound is essential to creating a compelling performance.

 

4.  Bird Song 새타령

“The Bird song” from the pansori “Jeokbyeokga” is a well known piece, also familiar as a folk song. It captivates listeners with the unique vocal techniques of the southern regions, vividly depicting the sounds of birds. The piece is arranged for Gayageum Byeongchang, and the G-Hwaja, adds an even more lively and cheerful touch to the performance.

 

5. Modern Folk Song - “Ssukdaemeori” 쑥대머리

A sorrowful aria from the pansori Chunhyangga, expressing Chunhyang's deep pain and longing after being separated from her lover, reimagined as a fusion piece in modern Korean pop style."

Or, “I Don’t Know What to Do,” adapted from the Tale of the Underwater Palace. This song is based on a segment of the Pansori (Korean traditional musical storytelling) “Sugungga” (Tale of the Underwater Palace), transformed into a popular Korean modern folk song. It humorously reinterprets the challenging situation where a sea turtle (Byeol jubu), who has never ventured onto land, must go ashore to capture a rabbit.