Cambridge Samulnori - 케임브리지 사물놀이

Samulnori

Samulnori is a Korean percussive art genre originating from Nong'ak (farmers' band music) and comprises four instruments: janggo (hour-glass drum), buk (barrel drum), jing (big gong) and kkwĕnggwari (small gong). The smallest samulnori group without duplication is a quartet. Samulnori can be played with either all players sitting on the floor or all players walking or dancing in prescribed motions even acrobatic ones.

Samulnori in Cambridge

Cambridge Samulnori embodies samulnori activities in Cambridge and is comprised of alumni, students, staff of the University of Cambridge and anyone else who wishes to participate from the Cambridge area. We welcome students, alumni, fellows and local residents – anyone who is interested in learning how to play Korean percussion! The group meets once a week.

Cambridge Samulnori has its beginning in October 2009 and has had the privilege of being taught by Kim Duk-Soo and the Samulnori Hanullim Performing Arts Troupe in November 2009 when they came to Cambridge to give a concert as part of the year-long 800th anniversary celebrations of our university. We benefited greatly from their generosity.

Classes

We practise once a week in the party room of Robinson College. Robinson College is located just west of the University Library. The plan of the college does not show the party room but it is down the stairs from the TV room (Level G number 13 on the map). We practise on Mondays during term and outside term too if there are enough people around still. Lessons start from 7pm (though can be delayed till 7.15pm because of logistics on the day) and run until 8:50pm or so with a break. First-timers are welcome. If you know you are definitely coming then it is helpful to email us because it makes our life easier if we know and also we can contact you if the session on the day has to be cancelled or postponed. (This was the case for 17 Oct 2011 which had to be cancelled at short notice.)

Tuition is given by Nami Morris, who has been performing Korean traditional music and dance for over twenty years. Nami received her Samulnori training from Kim Duk-Soo, a world-renowned percussion master who has sparked a renaissance in Korean traditional performing arts. Nami was a senior teaching fellow at the music department of SOAS, University of London and while there taught the samulnori performance course to first year students.

The main instrument used in our classes and the one of focus in samulnori in general and the related genres of nong'ak and pungmul is the double-headed hour-glass shaped drum called the chang'gu which all Cambridge Samulnori players are expected to learn and become proficient in.