Album Notes

The Gayageum zither is one of the most popular Korean traditional musical instruments. According to the Samguksagi, the chronicle of the Three Kingdoms of Korea, the Gayageum is believed to have been developed around the 6th century in the kingdom of Gaya, indeed, the instrument's name means “Gaya Harp.” Despite being primarily a diatonic instrument, numerous playing techniques evolved over the centuries, transforming this simple zither into an instrument with nearly an orchestral range of color and expressiveness.

“Gayageum, Be the Legend” features compositions for Gayageum ensemble by SooEun Kwak. Ms. Kwak graduated with honors from Seoul National University, where she studied under the great Gayageum master and holder of Intangible Cultural Asset No.23 (Gayageum Sanjo), JookPa Kim. Ms. Kwak is joined by the young musicians of Gayageum ensemble La-On G, whose name is a bi-lingual composite of the classical Korean word for “Pleasant” and the letter "G" (for Gayageum). Throughout, Kwak’s music explores the expressive possibilities of the 25-string Gayageum in a serious but accessible way. Some of the compositions were inspired by traditional court or folk music, while others are entirely modern in concept, each capturing a distinctive mood and flavor - sometimes soothing, sometimes haunting and sometimes overtly virtuosic.

“Gayageum, Be the Legend” succeeds in presenting the elegant sounds of the ancient Gayageum in a contemporary setting, with music that is elegantly conceived, stylishly peformed and beautifully recorded.