Korean Traditional Music Ensemble: Traditional Music from Korea

by Chung Woong Korean Traditional Music Ensemble, Chung Woong

Overview

This is classical, not folk, music. It traces its lineage back a thousand years or more. Korean music seems largely free from foreign influence. There are a variety of instruments in the ensemble, including Korean versions of the oboe, zither, fiddle, drums, and gongs. The speed is usually slow to midtempo, but sometimes they creep up to the pace of a march. Most of the songs are instrumentals, and all appear to be traditionals. As far as the appeal of the music to someone not used to it, one would have to say it is a mixed bag. Sometimes, to put it bluntly, the timbre is a little cacophonous. Sometimes it is strangely beautiful. Three tracks stand out as special. "San Jo" features the majestic bass zither; the piece is eerily grand. "Sanjo Ensemble" is an improvisational piece arranged for most of the instruments (sorry, no gongs), and sounds a little like jazz, with ensemble parts alternating with fetching solos from the zither, fiddle, and flute. It sounds a bit like Chinese classical music. "Samullori" is a raucous and rhythmic number just for gongs and drums. It really pulls the listener in. Recommended. ~ Kurt Keefner

Product Details

Release Date:	08/27/2013
Label:	Arc Music
UPC:	5019396246522
Rank:	225848

Album Credits

Performance Credits

Chung Woong   Primary Artist,Primary Artist
Chung Woong Korean Traditional Music Ensemble   Primary Artist
Suk-Ho Yi   Flute
Ju-Youn Ryoo   Zither,Kayagum
Woo-Taek Lee   Drums
Min-Su Kim   Vocals
Ju-Youn Lee   Fiddle,Haegum
Jae-Hoon Kang   Ajaeng,Zither
Sun-Wok Maeng   Jing
Sung-Hyeon Lee   Komungo
Eun-Young Jung   Clap Drums,Flute

Technical Credits

Guy Tourville   Audio Production,Producer,Engineer,Editing,Mixing
Woo-Taek Lee   Package Supervision
Ute Entwistle   Typesetting,Layout Design,Layout Concept
Ghyslain Luc Lavigne   Assistant,Assistant Engineer
Sun-Wok Maeng   Dancer
Brendon Zimmatore   Assistant Engineer,Assistant
Jesse Reuben Wilson   Cover Design
Diz Heller   Pre-Mastering,Photography,Liner Notes,Assistant,Assistant Engineer
Traditional   Composer