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This is a scene of “samulnori,” or Korean traditional percussion. The 16th World Samulnori Competition and Festival will be held at Kongju National University in Gongju, South Chungcheong Province from Nov. 9-11.
/ Courtesy of SamulNori Hanullim |
By Chung Ah-young
Staff Reporter
More than 1,200 participants from 80 samulnori troupes including 10 foreign ones will gather to compete in the artistry of Korean traditional percussion at the 16th World Samulnori Competition and Festival.
The festival will be held at Kongju National University in Gongju, South Chungcheong Province from Nov. 9-11.
``Samulnori'' is Korean traditional percussion quartet for folk music performance using four percussion instruments ― the jing (large gong), ggwaenggwari (small gong), jang-go (hourglass-shaped drum) and buk (barrel drum).
The term ``samulnori'' was first coined in 1978 to describe a genre of music and to serve as the name of Korea's leading traditional performance group led by Kim Duk-soo, based on farmers' band music, or ``nongak.''
Samulnori combines the rhythms used in nongak with musical elements from shamanist ceremonies and modern compositions, creating a synthesis of old and new, rural and urban, east and west, and combining elements of music and dance.
Samulnori refers to the performance of four musicians playing and dancing each with a different Korean traditional percussion instrument.
The music has irresistible rhythms, making heads nod to the clamorous beats, and unleashing feelings of elation. These quartets are popular not only among Koreans but also for foreigners because of the strong but harmonized beats, creating ``samulnorians'' worldwide.
This year's festival will include ``gilnori,'' a preliminary event usually performed on a road, to boost the festive mood of the festival.
Gilnori is designed to promote Korean street festivals and carnivals in other countries, representing ``a rite of passage'' connecting indoor festivals to those held outside.
Also, various cultural experience programs at the campus of the university will entertain visitors and participants.
On Nov. 9, Kim Duk-soo and his samulnori troupe and saxophonist Lee Jung-sik's band and hip-hop group The Square will perform together in the opening ceremony under the title of ``Korea Beat Stream.''
On the second day of the festival, Kim's troupe and other traditional performers will perform traditional plays, along with dynamic dances and music under the title of ``Dynamic Korea.''
On Nov. 11, the awards ceremony will take place along with the encore performances of the winners at the closing ceremony.
The festival was first held in 1989. Since 1993, international teams from all over the world have begun to participate in the event, which has received presidential recognition as the largest and oldest Korean traditional percussion festival in the nation.
This year's event welcomes all competition as well as spectators to join in the festivities.
There will be many diverse and enjoyable booths and programs being held for everyone to enjoy.
Also, the festival will allow participants and visitors to thoroughly experience Korean traditional culture and music in memorable ways.
For more information, call (041) 574-6094 or (02) 3444-9175 or visit www.samulfestival.com.
chungay@koreatimes.co.kr
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yistory@koreatimes.co.kr
