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Poongmul is music which draws on many inspirations. From the farmers there is nong-ak. This lively music encouraged tired farmers and re-energized them while they worked in the fields. The military influenced poongmul in it’s costume and distinctive ribbon hat, called a sang-mo. Korea’s spiritual heritage also is evident in the rhythms both Buddhist and shamanistic. Finally, traveling bands of entertainers, namsadang, roamed from village to village and their arts kept alive today by poongmul players. Each region of Korea developed it’s own characteristic rhythm patterns and styles, usually categorized geographically but each are now known throughout Korea. |
Instruments |
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The percussion instruments that give both samulnori and poongmul their unique sound imitate the sounds of nature and embody eastern philosophy. The sounds of a summer storm are represented in turn by the small brass kwaenggari (lightning), the barrel drum buk (thunder clouds), the large gong jing (wind) and the hourglass-shaped janggu (rain).
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Youngnam Karak is a samulnori piece that originated in the southeastern region of Korea and highlights the possibilities of the buk.
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Repertoire |
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Utdari Poongmul features the rhythms of Choongchung and Kyunggi provinces. The complex time signatures and the climactic duel of two kwaenggaris makes this arrangement popular and exciting.
Samdo (Three Province) Samulnori combines the best of all the traditional regional variations of poongmul into a single showcase piece: Youngnam Karak, Utdari Poongmul, and Honam Udo.
Suljanggu displays a musician’s virtuosity on the signature Korean drum, the janggu. |
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Other instruments appear with the four main percussion instruments to add dimension and contrast such as the nallari, a flute-like instrument and the sogo, a small hand drum which mainly used as a dance prop. |
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Vongku Pak’s |
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Vongku Pak performing suljanggu |
Samulnori |
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Only developed since the 1970s, this popular style of music is both modern and historical. Samulnori takes traditional rhythms played on traditional Korean instruments and presents them in artistic ways that highlights the virtuosity of the musicians on stage. Basically an off-shoot of poongmul, samulnori requires great dexterity and skill and is easily adapted for feature performances.
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Poongmul |
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Email: vong@koreandrum.org Phone: (646) 765-6139 |
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Samulnori & Poongmul |
