C&L Music
Yu Kyung-Hwa : Sympathy (SKO,2005)*****
This is a full CD with music by the chulhyungeum. This instrument is an iron-stringed zither designed by Kim Yeong-cheol in the 40s. That master made the instrument after having played a guitar like the Korean zither, geomungo developing it to an expressive instrument which could express itself with a range of various Korean instruments like the geomungo, gayageum, ajaeng etc. It is played by a plectrum and a pick on the left hand with possible techniques like vibration, gliding tone and pushing tone. It became one of the new instruments for the Korean traditional style of sanjo (solo traditional music accompanied by an hourglass shaped drum). For the people interested in expanding the possibilities of the guitar this instrument might give an answer.
Yu Kyunh-hwa is one of the only performers of this still somewhat forgotten instrument. She had developed herself at young age as a traditional dance performer, then became a geomungo player and after that a percussionist, before dedicating herself fully to this instrument for 10 years before this album was recorded. She currently is a master and teacher at the university. She also is a member of Sangsang, a soloist ensemble.
We hear two shamanistic songs, the first and last track, a 15 minute version in 3 parts from a piece from the Kim Yeong-ceol school. The there are also three 'conversation' tracks as dialogues between the silk-stringed geomungo with the chulhyungeumand or duets, where you can hear a few siming spontaneous voice enthusiasms. Another piece is dedicated yo the Yeongsanhoesang traditional folk style, where the instrument plays tgether with saenghwang (mouth organ) harmonies and some danso (bamboo flute) solos on top. The first minute of the last track has something of a sitar raga improvisation with comparable resonating strings accents to the sitar. This shamanistic song includes singing. Shamanistic songs had filled the player with fear and fascination in her childhood when she saw these performances. She dedicated a lot to this genre to capture its musical strength. At a certain point the singing here has something of the blues, but happier in energy, or more in harmony.
Yu Kyung-hwa is a virtuosi and master of the instrument. I recommend guitar lovers who like the playing of people like Paul Metzger to start with, guitarists who show there are more sounds possible on the guitar, being inspired by Hindustani music, to take also a look to the possible enhancement with eastern and more specifically Korean music, specifically this highly potential instrument. Inspiring.
