웃다리 즉흥 독주 (+Samulnori story)

웃다리 칠채 기본으로 즉흥 독주 (slightly affected by 아랫다리 좌질굿)
2010년10월21일(목)

아가&용배가 장구를 친다
Aga&Yongbae plays Janggu

[ I DO NOT KNOW IF THIS STORY IS TRUE. I DO NOT CLAIM IT IS TRUE.
IT IS NOT EVEN A STORY BUT MERELY QUESTIONS ROLLING OUT OF MY/HIS HEAD ]

Part 1

WHO 'HIDES' THE REAL STORY OF SAMULNORI?

Where is the real story of Samulnori? Who 'hides' the truth about its name?

As it is commonly known, or believed, the term 'Samulnori' was created after the second concert of the original group in Gonggan Sarang theater in Seoul in April 1978. Probably anybody interested in the history of Samulnori is familiar with the story of Mr Sim Woo Seong approaching the performers after the concert and saying: 'Since you play four instruments, why not you call it Samulnori (four things' play)? '

Still, is the story a fact.. or a legend? Or maybe a lie? Sure, that's the official version but is it really true?

In 2007, 30 years after the creation of Samulnori, a new fact came out. A fact that should stir at least a wonder among Gugak circles , still one may only wonder why it didn't. What is the fact so worth paying attention?

It is one simple fact written on a single piece of paper, the paper being actually an invitation.

An invitation.

Can one simple invitation stir a havoc? This one should, for sure. Simply because it may show, if not serve as a proof, that there is definitely something wrong with the history of Samulnori.

What is the invitation then? What does it invite for?

That single piece of paper is special not only because it invites to the concert that seems to have never been mentioned in the mainstream history of Samulnori, but it invites to a Samulnori concert before the Samulnori term was officially created (sic!). Namely, it invites to the congratulatory event for the 77th birthday of Mr Ham Seok Heon that took place on 18th March 1978 in the auditorium hall of Heung Sadan Building in Seoul. The place and occasion might be of second importance here. What we should pay attention to is the fact that the term 'Samulnori' is included into the concert repertoire enlisted on the invitation one month before the term was actually created (sic!). How come? (Did somebody manipulate with time? Or with history?)

How come the invitation had never resurfaced before? How come the concert itself has never got through to public attention and has probably never been mentioned in the history of Samulnori? Was it just a forgotten concert from the beginnings of Samulnori, as it may often happen that in the havoc of early creation nobody pays attention to details? Or maybe was it forgotten on purpose, so the history of Samulnori could have been changed, rearranged, if not manipulated? Why would anybody wish to change even such a simple fact as the creation of a name? Maybe because it is usually the creator who gives the name to the work, same as it is with offspring being given the name by their parents? Thus, maybe by changing the origin of the name, one would also wish to replace the original creator?

If it was so, where shall we look for the real creator of Samulnori and of its name?

Category:

Music

Tags:

• janggu
• 장구