Samulnori Celebrates 30th Anniversary
By Chung Ah-young
Staff Reporter
There was a time when traditional Korean music performed by ``namsadang,'' or a traveling male entertainment troupe was regarded as something on the fringes of the art world.
But their street performance was reborn as ``samulori,'' which is now a genre of performance representative of the nation. It has been staged in high profile events from the presidential inauguration ceremony to international gatherings such as the Olympic Games.
The Korean word ``samul'' refers to four instruments ― the ``jing,'' a large gong; ``kkwaenggwari,'' a small gong; ``janggo,'' an hourglass-shaped drum; and ``buk,'' a barrel drum ― ``nori'' means to play. Thus, the meaning of the term is the playing of four instruments.
``Samulnori'' was re-created by four traditional percussionists ― Kim Duk-soo, late Kim Yong-bae (now replaced by Nam Ki-moon), Lee Kwang-soo and Choi Jong-sil ― in a small theater in Daehangno, Seoul 30 years ago.
``Samulnori'' celebrates its 30th anniversary this year. The four artists will come together for the first time in 14 years since they last performed together for a special event to celebrate the year of Korean traditional music in 1994. The anniversary performance will be held at the Sejong Center for the Performing Arts in central Seoul, March 6-7.
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 traditional percussion master Kim Duk-soo.
Samulnori goes back to what is usually referred to as farmers' band music, or ``nongak.''
The four percussionists didn't just reproduce nongak as it was, instead, they combined the rhythms used in nongak with the musical elements from shamanistic ceremonies. The outcome was a synthesis of old and new, rural and urban, east and west, adopting the elements of music and dance.
The four instruments represent the harmony of the cosmos and the link between nature and mankind.
Kim, a Korean traditional percussion master, who was born in 1952 in the middle of the Korean War (1950-1953), majored in Korean wind instruments and ``pansori,'' or Korean traditional narrative songs in high school. He made his debut as a member of ``namsadang'' in 1957 at the age of five, following in the footsteps of his father.
``Samulnori'' has a beauty that can express all kinds of emotions ― from sorrow to anger to joy ― in any place at any time, whether it be a funeral, a banquet or a workplace.
The music has enjoyed popularity not only among Koreans, but also among foreigners with its rhythms and clamorous beats. Its popularity led Encyclopedia Britannica to include the term ``samulnorian'' in its pages, referring to one who enjoys the genre.
The anniversary performances will take place at 8 p.m. March 6-7, consisting of two parts ― traditional folk performances such as ``gilnori,'' or a preliminary event usually performed along a road, and ``binari,'' or a form of rural percussion music in the first part and other performances for the second.
Tickets cost from 30,000 won to100,000 won. For reservation, call 1577-5266.