Four Thousand Years of Korean Folk Music in Bloomington, MN

Folk songs, or "minyo", are a very important part of Korea's traditional folk music. These folk songs can be differentiated by regions, which give each style particular characteristics. In one province, these songs are grandiose, in another province a wide vibrato is used; in another one, the songs are plaintive and sorrowful, and more. We also hear on this CD a song from "P'ansori" which is a typical epic vocal art from Korean, the singers being accompanied mainly by percussions. Among the instruments, we hear the "kayagum", a table zither, the "p'iri", a double reed bamboo oboe, the "taegum", a traverse flute, the "haegum", a two-stringed fiddle, many percussions, as well as many other very typical Korean instruments giving to Korean music a unique character. Exclusively sung by women (at least on this CD, which also includes 3 instrumental pieces), we hear in this music the strength and the heart of a nation. Imposing! ~ Bruno Deschenes