"Nong-Hak" was commissioned for the first concert of the Gayageum ensemble jul.
The name literally means "to play and flirt with the strings." Nong (vibrato) represents aggressiveness and brilliance, while hak (crane) is linked with the spirit of seonbi (scholar), characterized by stillness and elegance.
This is a duet for Gayageum and its 25 string variant, in which the two performers can freely improvise in their interactive performance. Each instrument has its 10 motives with contrasting styles, showcasting traditional techniques used in sanjo. The 25 string Gayageum has the faster passages.
We each play, together or seperately, our ten passages in our own way, using repetition and improvisation. This means that a great range of variation is possible, depending on the musical interpretation and ideas of the performer.
This piece contrasts and harmonizes the traditional Gayageum with its modern, modified version in terms of tone color, technique, and tonal range. Each performance session brings us the joy of creating somthing new and makes us look forward to our next meeting.
(Gayageum Soloists JUL Composer Series Ⅱ, ByungDong Paik(CD) - Jinkyung Kim)
