Gayageum virtuoso Seo Eun-young is set to hold her fifth solo recital, 'Gongnyeok (功力) V,' on June 30 at the Umyeon Hall of the National Gugak Center. The performance will feature the complete 'Lee Tae-baek-ryu Cheol-gayageum Sanjo,' a monumental work meticulously crafted by master Lee Tae-baek. Audiences anticipate Seo Eun-young's profound interpretation of Namdo Sanjo's rich sonic tapestry, brought to life on the unique iron-stringed gayageum (cheol-gayageum).
A Musical 'Gongnyeok' Forged Through Dedication
Gayageum performer Seo Eun-young will present her fifth solo recital, 'Gongnyeok (功力) V,' on Tuesday, June 30, at 7:30 PM at the Umyeon Hall of the National Gugak Center. This concert will prominently feature the complete 'Lee Tae-baek-ryu Cheol-gayageum Sanjo,' which Master Lee Tae-baek (a professor at Mokwon University) has refined throughout his life. The performance marks another step in Seo Eun-young's musical journey, which she has quietly expanded over many years.
The title of the recital, 'Gongnyeok (功力),' signifies the power of accumulated study and effort gained through long practice. Following her 'Seong-eum-ji-gyo' series, which explored the harmony of sounds, Seo Eun-young has continued her artistic journey of deepening her craft through the 'Gongnyeok' series. She has performed and recorded various Sanjo styles, including those of the Sin Gwan-yong, Han Sook-gu, and Kim Juk-pa schools. With this fifth performance, she further broadens her musical horizons by delving into the new realm of 'cheol-hyeon' (iron strings).
The Aesthetics of Namdo Sanjo on the Cheol-gayageum
At this recital, Seo Eun-young will perform 'Lee Tae-baek-ryu Cheol-gayageum Sanjo' on a cheol-gayageum, which features thin metal strings instead of the usual silk strings. Unlike the softer Sanjo gayageum, the cheol-gayageum possesses a cool and firm timbre. However, through deep *nonghyeon* (a technique of pushing and pulling strings to create vibrato and nuanced tones), it can produce the warm and rich *seong-eum* (sonic texture) characteristic of Namdo music. Since the winter of 2024, Seo has dedicated herself to mastering this instrument and the Lee Tae-baek-ryu Sanjo, exploring the deep *seong-eum* and *sikimsae* (ornamentation) of Namdo melodies.
Sanjo is a traditional Korean instrumental solo developed by combining elements of shamanic music, *sinawi* (improvisational ensemble music), and *pansori* (narrative singing). It is characterized by its progression from slow to gradually faster rhythmic patterns. The 'Lee Tae-baek-ryu Cheol-gayageum Sanjo,' central to this performance, was conceived and refined over 20 years by Master Lee Tae-baek, who hails from Jindo and has deeply internalized Namdo musical traditions. Master Lee did not merely adapt existing Sanjo for iron strings; he sought to imbue each note with subtle emotional nuances.
Master and Disciple: Enhancing Namdo Music's Depth
The recital will feature the complete 'Lee Tae-baek-ryu Cheol-gayageum Sanjo,' performed sequentially through various rhythmic cycles (jangdan): *Daseureum*, *Jinyangjo*, *Jungmori*, *Gutgeori*, *Eotmori*, *Jajinmori*, *Hwimori*, and *Semachi*. The unique rhythmic structure, particularly encompassing *Gutgeori*, *Eotmori*, and *Semachi*, will vividly express the distinct colors of Namdo music, promising a deeply moving experience for the audience.
On stage, Master Lee Tae-baek, the creator of this Sanjo style, will accompany Seo Eun-young on the *janggu* (hourglass drum). This collaboration between master and disciple transcends a mere performance, adding significant meaning to the inheritance and development of traditional music, and is expected to resonate deeply with all present.