Program notes
BINARI (Prayer Song)
A sweeping prayer song that used to signal the beginning of the troupe's stay at a village, Binari can now be heard at
events such as the opening of a new business or building, or at a performance. The shaman sings the extensive prayer,
which touches on many aspects important to Korean beliefs. It recounts the tale of creation and it calls upon the various
spirits that reside in the village and homes, eventually asking for a blessing upon the people, the players and the ground
they inhabit.
Placed on the altar is an abundance of food offerings to the gods and to ancestors, and a pig's head. Audience members
are invited to approach the altar, bringing with them their prayers.
They may also light an incense stick, pour rice wine and bow.
It is customary to place an offering of money on the altar. The head of the pig signifies wealth, health and abundance;
and, if an offering of money is placed in the mouth of the pig, it is believed that the prayers brought to the altar will be
answered generously.
SAMDO SUL JANGGO KARAK(JangGo Rhythms from Three Provinces)
All four men are seated with JangGo (hourglass drum) and play an arrangement consisting of the most representative
JangGo karak (rhythm patterns) of three Korean provinces.
Originally, one player would fasten the JangGo to his body and perform a showy solo piece, flaunting his unique style of
dance and technique. SamulNori created this new arrangement to be played while seated, shifting the focus from
showmanship to musicality. This piece consists of five movements, showcasing five different karak, beginning with the
technically demanding "Tasurim," and finishing off with the climax "Hwimori."
SAMDO NONGAK KARAK(Nongak Rhythms from Three Provinces)
Samdo Nongak Karak also is an arrangement of different rhythms from the three provinces. Some of the karak that
appeared in Samdo Sul JangGo Karak also appear here, now interpreted by the four different instruments. During
festivals, performers would traditionally have played these instruments while dancing, but SamulNori has broadened the
scope of the many karaks that appear by playing seated and developing the musical possibilities of this arrangement.
The music's intimacy with the land and agrarian culture is evident in the verses the performers exclaim before the climatic
portion of this piece:
Look to the sky and gather stars.
Look to the ground and till the earth.
This year was bountiful
Next year let it also be so.
Moon, moon, bright moon,
As bright as day;
In the darkness,
Your light gives us illumination.
PAN KUT
Pan Kut is a modern rendition of the large group dances of the farming festivals made suitable for a performance on the
stage.
The dance is featured by the SangMo (a ribboned hat) and the BuPo (a feathered hat) which the performers will make
move and spin with the energy of their acrobatically dancing bodies while they are playing instruments.
With feet treading the earth, ribbons flying upward, and rhythms sounding through the air, the players attempt to
consummate the union of heaven, earth and humankind. The banner, the spiritual symbol of the troupe, with its stake
driven into the ground, and its feathers reaching for the sky, embodies the desire for cosmic harmony.
Because farmers were traditionally recruited as soldiers when a war broke out, there was a great exchange of ideas
between the military musical tradition and village dances.
Most of the choreography is based on military exercises, and the hats the performers wear resemble ancient helmets. It
has also been said that the SangMo originally had shards of glass and metal attached to the ribbon, and were used as
weapons at the battle.
SamulNori Cross-Over
Aside from the four pieces mentioned here, many other pieces have resulted from the SamulNori's constant attempt to
meet with other types of music and art genres.
"A Korean Orchestral Piece for SamulNori," "SamulNori & Piano," "Concerto for SamulNori," and "SamulNori and
Jazz," are some of the well-known examples.
SamulNori never remains just as a tradition conservator, but keeps up with contemporary tradition.