YALE UNITY DRUM TROUPE

What is traditional Korean music?

 

The history Traditional Korean music can be traced as far back as the 4th century. Organized largely into two genres (courtly and folk music), Yale Unity focuses on Korean Traditional folk music. In particular, we play a form of music called nongak or pungmul nori. This is the music played within the farming community to celebrate harvests and important events. It involves four main instruments: the kkwanggwari, buk, jing, and janggu.

 

In pungmul, each instrument (pictured on left in order) is said to imitate sounds from nature; the kwangwari thunders, the buk’s sounds like clouds floating, the jing imitates the wind, and the janggu patters like rain hitting the ground.

 

Although the original style of pungmul nori (which incorporates dance) is still enjoyed in Korea, it also inspired the popular samul nori style of playing. Samul nori is what you will most likely see at our performances! As a style that was adapted for stage-performances, it is played sitting down and incorporates a faster rhythm than pungmul.