Traditional Korean Music Series
A Concert Series of Traditional Korean Music, or Gugak
PROGRAM
1. CheonNyeonManSe 천년만세
CheonNyeonManSe literally means “May it continue for a thousand years and ten thousand years," wishing for something beautiful and precious to last for a very long time. It projects clear, elegant, bright, and graceful atmosphere. The melodies naturally flow into one another, sometimes moving together and sometimes responding to each other, revealing the delicate beauty of traditional Korean music.
The danso (a short recorder) has a clear, pure, and gentle sound, while the haegeum (a 2-string instrument) has a warm and expressive tone comparable to the human voice.
2. Gayageum Sanjo, Kim Juk-pa schooln 김죽파 류 가야금 산조
Sanjo literally means 'scattered melodies,' and has a free and improvisational components. 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. Kim Juk-pa Style Sanjo has its deeply expressive nonghyeon. The strings are gently but intensely pressed, bent, and shaken, sometimes with a feeling of almost squeezing the sound out of the instrument. When a note is held and slowly shaken, it is not simply a change in pitch. Within that single note, there can be a depth of emotion that is difficult to express in words.
3. DoRaJi (Bell Flower) – 25-string Gayageum 도라지
"Doraji" is one of Korea's most beloved traditional folk songs. Its bright and lively melody carries a sense of Korean spirit and musical beauty. Many Koreans will recognize it from the familiar opening words, "Doraji, Doraji, baek Doraji." This arrangement for 25-string gayageum was created by several professors from the Pyongyang University of Music in North Korea. The arrangement explores the wide range, rich harmonies, and resonant sound of the 25-string gayageum, bringing a new musical color to this familiar song.
4. NamDo GutGeoRi with Daegeum and Haegeum남도 굿걸이
GutGeoRi rhythm provides a relaxed yet lively flow of music and Namdo music in southern part of Korea has warm, earthy character and deep emotional beauty. In this performance, the rich and powerful sound of the daegeum, the traditional Korean bamboo flute, blends with the delicate and expressive sound of the haegeum, a two-stringed bowed instrument. At times, the two instruments seem to sing together, while at other moments, they respond to one another, creating a beautiful musical conversation.
5. Gayageum Sanjo, Seong Geum-ryeon school 성금련류 가야금 산조
One of the greatest charms of Seang Geum-ryeon Style Sanjo is its combination of brilliant virtuosity and delicate expression. Deep and expressive nonghyeon, a wide variety of ornaments, and constantly changing modes and rhythmic patterns create many different musical colors and emotions within a single piece. Another distinctive feature is the inclusion of Gutgeori, a lively and graceful rhythmic cycle that gives the music a unique sense of movement and character.
6. Spring in my Hometown – 25-string Gayageum 고향의 봄
"Spring in My Hometown" is a beloved Korean children's song by Hong Nan-pa has remained deeply loved for its warm and nostalgic expression of childhood memories and longing for home. The piece, arrangeed for the 25-string gayageum by Kim Gye-ok expands the original melody to showcase with the instrument's wide range, rich harmonies, and expressive resonance, creating a more spacious and colorful musical landscape.
Song Eun Shin
Woosung Jung
Song Eun Shin tarted on Gayageum when she was 10 years old. She graduated from Korean National Traditional Arts High School, and received bachelor's and master's degree from Chung-Ang University with top honors. She won Seoul Gayaguem Competition and has performed in various venues such as Shanghai Expo, the G20 Summit, and Hong Kong national holiday events. She was a member of Chongdong Theater, which is Korean Traditional Art Theater, and performed Korean Traditional Music.
In the United States, she performed at Lincoln Center, Kennedy Center, and Carnegie Hall, and She is actively pursuing a solo career in the United States.
Woosung Jung is an accomplished musician who has inherited the Daegeum Jeongak, a Korean Intangible Cultural Heritage. He plays various wind instruments including the Daegeum, Sogeum, Danso, and Taepyeongso, as well as percussion instruments like the Janggu and Buk.
Currently, he is active in the New York/New Jersey area, performing at various venues including Carnegie Hall, the Kennedy Center, Lincoln Center, and Jordan Hall. Additionally, he teaches a diverse group of students through online classes, reaching not only various regions within the United States but also Korea, China, Japan, and Australia.
Grace LeeKyung Kang
Grace Leekyung Kang is a renowned haegeum artist recognized for her artistic depth in Korean traditional music. She received the Gold Prize at the Nan-Gye Korean Traditional Music Competition and earned her Ph.D. in traditional Korean music from Hanyang University in 2015. She has performed at major venues including Carnegie Hall, the Kennedy Center, and Lincoln Center. She is an active member of the G-Hwaja Music Band, released her album “Place in My Heart" in 2022 followed by the single series "Beautiful and Splendid" (Parts 1-3), and is currently an apprentice in Gasa, a National Intangible Cultural Heritage of Korea.