Samulnori Fantasy: Seasons, by The Gugak Jazz Society

Samulnori Fantasy: Seasons

by The Gugak Jazz Society

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Compact Disc (CD) + Digital Album
SAMULNORI FANTASY: SEASONS

Written & Composed by Mina Cho

Boston’s night skyline with moonlit waters of the Charles River evokes the magic that inspired Mina Cho’s second musical narrative, Samulnori Fantasy: Seasons. In the style of the Pansori Cantata first introduced in Cho’s 2019 Gilryungjeon (“The Dream of Gilryung”), the narrative takes the form of Korean traditional Pansori [storytelling in voice] with Samulnori [four primary percussion instruments – Jing (big gong), Janggu (drum), Kkwaenggwari (small gong), and Buk (drum)]. Samulnori is a contemporary counterpart of Korean Pungmul (a Korean folk music tradition rooted in the collective farming culture called ‘Dure’) and Namsadang (an itinerant traditional performing arts troupe). Throughout the piece, Korean traditional music is interweaved with the sounds of modern Jazz and Gospel music.

Seasons features a moon rabbit, Rain, who possesses a singing power to call forth the rain, and a young woman, Sunnie, who studies business in Boston after giving up her dream of becoming a master Pansori singer. After celebrating his retirement from 100 years of musical priesthood in Lunar Land, Rain is allowed to travel to the Human World, but for only one night of the full moon. A magical pathway, named 7th Moonstar Street, appears between Lunar Land and the Charles River for Rain’s trip. Upon reaching the Charles River, he meets Sunnie. Powerfully inspired through music and conversation, Rain and Sunnie begin to explore their passion for music and embrace a new season in their lives.

In the story, the overarching imagery of Moonstar Street connects seemingly unrelated events in life, embracing the ideal Lunar Land and the human world. The successive movements portray scenes of Lunar Land, of Boston’s Charles River, Sunnie’s funeral, and an ideal world where Sunnie reunites with her loved ones. As the narrative evolves, the spirit of Korean traditional music infused with contemporary music elements resonates with many aspects of life and emotion.

This album features 11 tracks selected from the extended composition, which are considered essential in conveying the story of Seasons.

Includes unlimited streaming of Samulnori Fantasy: Seasons via the free Bandcamp app, plus high-quality download in MP3, FLAC and more. ... more

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Includes unlimited streaming via the free Bandcamp app, plus high-quality download in MP3, FLAC and more.

Purchasable with gift card

$10 USD or more

1.	Moonlit Invocation 03:42	info	buy track
2.	Full Moon Fest 06:12	info	buy track
3.	Wolsanga 10:12	info	buy track
4.	Chilchae Arirang 11:54	info	buy track
5.	Aniri to Moonstar Chorus 01:58	info	buy track
6.	Moonstar Chorus 03:19	info	buy track
7.	Neogeori 08:55	info	buy track
8.	7th Moonstar Street 07:29	info	buy track
9.	Seasons 07:15	info	buy track
10.	The Rain Song 03:40	info	buy track
11.	The Sunny Song 03:51	info	buy track

about

SAMULNORI FANTASY: SEASONS

Written & Composed by Mina Cho

Boston’s night skyline with moonlit waters of the Charles River evokes the magic that inspired Mina Cho’s second musical narrative, Samulnori Fantasy: Seasons. In the style of the Pansori Cantata first introduced in Cho’s 2019 Gilryungjeon (“The Dream of Gilryung”), the narrative takes the form of Korean traditional Pansori [storytelling in voice] with Samulnori [four primary percussion instruments – Jing (big gong), Janggu (drum), Kkwaenggwari (small gong), and Buk (drum)]. Samulnori is a contemporary counterpart of Korean Pungmul (a Korean folk music tradition rooted in the collective farming culture called ‘Dure’) and Namsadang (an itinerant traditional performing arts troupe). Throughout the piece, Korean traditional music is interweaved with the sounds of modern Jazz and Gospel music.

Seasons features a moon rabbit, Rain, whose possesses a singing power to call forth the rain, and a young woman, Sunnie, who studies business in Boston after giving up her dream of becoming a master Pansori singer. After celebrating his retirement from 100 years of musical priesthood in Lunar Land, Rain is allowed to travel to the Human World, but for only one night of the full moon. A magical pathway, named 7th Moonstar Street, appears between Lunar Land and the Charles River for Rain’s trip. Upon reaching the Charles River, he meets Sunnie. Powerfully inspired through music and conversation, Rain and Sunnie begin to explore their passion for music and embrace a new season in their lives.

In the story, the overarching imagery of Moonstar Street connects seemingly unrelated events in life, embracing the ideal Lunar Land and the human world. The successive movements portray scenes of Lunar Land, of Boston’s Charles River, Sunnie’s funeral, and an ideal world where Sunnie reunites with her loved ones. As the narrative evolves, the spirit of Korean traditional music infused with contemporary music elements resonates with many aspects of life and emotion.

This album features 11 tracks selected from the extended composition, which are considered essential in conveying the story of Seasons.

credits

released October 4, 2023

Produced by Mina Cho
All Music & Words written by Mina Cho (unless otherwise indicated)

Performers:
Rhythm Section
Mina Cho_ piano
Miho Song_ bass
Yeongjin Kim_ drums

Samulnori (Korean traditional percussion quartet)
Insoo Kim_ kkwaenggwari, sori-buk
Yeojoo Yoon_ janggu
Ji Hoon Kim_ buk
Yugyeong Seong_ jing, kkwaenggwari

Horns
Nayeon Lee_ piri, taepyungso (Korean traditional woodwinds)
Lihi Haruvi_ soprano, alto, tenor saxophones

String
Chamdawoon Kim_ ajaeng (Korean traditional bowed zither)

Vocals
Borim Kim
Robert Pate
Farayi Malek
Nayeon Lee

Chorus in Korean
Ji Hoon Kim & Gugak Jazz Society Members

Recorded by Jiyoung Lee, Jeongmyeon Lee at Eumsound Studio (Seoul, Korea)
& by Joshua Lu at Wellspring Sound Studio (Acton, MA)
Mixed & Mastered by Joshua Lu
Artwork & Design by Micha
Distribution & Production Supported by Sori-e Naite Music Company

Presented by International Gugak Jazz Institute, Inc. (www.IGJI.org)

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about

The Gugak Jazz Society Boston, Massachusetts

The Gugak Jazz Society is the representative musical group of IGJI that explores to create new platforms where Korean traditional music meets jazz and world music.