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 *Traditional Korean Percussion and Dance*
Samulnori is a genre of Korean traditional percussive performance. A samulnori ensemble comprises one or more each of a kkwaenggwari (small gong), a ching (large gong), a changgo (hourglass drum) and a buk (barrel drum). Samul and nori means "four things" and "to play," respectively. In Korean, samulnori refers to the performance of four musicians playing and dancing with these folk percussion instruments. The origins of the music can be traced to the playing of folk instruments known as pungmulnori and farmers' musical performances known as nongak. From ancient days until the outbreak of the Korean War in 1950, wandering artist-entertainers called namsadang roamed across Korea visiting villages and cities. Upon announcing their arrival at the main gate of a village, they would make their way to the central courtyard and occupy it for the next few days and nights, performing satirical mask dramas, puppet plays, acrobatic acts and shamanistic rites. After commanding the evil spirits to leave and good ones to come, the performers would invite all the villagers to gather, watch their acts and revel with them all night. These gatherings were an integral and important part of life affirmation for the people of these isolated Korean villages for countless centuries. |
| *Samulnori Four Traditional Musical Instruments*
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 Kkwaenggwari (small gong or hand gong) Similar to the ching in its form and construction, the kkwaenggwari is smaller in size with a diameter of 20 centimeters. Unlike the ching, it is played with a small, unwrapped mallet and therefore creates a much sharper and high-pitched sound. In the farmers' festival music, the lead player (the sang-soe) of this small gong produces tones that are both loud and high in register while the sounds that emanate from the ching are softer by comparison. The mallet that is used to strike this larger gong is made of wood and tipped with cloth or deerskin. The mallet used for the smaller gong (the kkwaenggwari) is thinner and longer in size, usually made of bamboo or other wood and lacks the cloth or deerskin wrapping, creating a shrill sound by comparison. |
 Changgo (folk hourglass drum) With a wooden body and two drumheads made of hide, the changgo is played by striking the drumheads with two sticks, one in each hand. It is mostly used in nongak and also as accompaniment to folk songs and folk ballads. The changgo is an instrument fundamental to Korean traditional classic music. It was originally used to accompany traditional vocal music. However, because of its flexible nature and the ease with which it can be used to produce complex rhythms, the changgo is now regarded as the basic accompaniment instrument in any performance because of its ability to instantly cheer an audience. |
 Buk (folk drum) A drum with two identical drumheads, top and bottom, each with a diameter of about 60 centimeters. The instrument is played by striking the drumheads with a stick made of hard wood. In the past, the buk, known to be the oldest folk instrument, was used to accompany all genres of Korean music. Because of its dynamic resonance, the buk's sound has been compared to that of pounding the earth. The buk was originally placed on the ground in performance, but in the case of samulnori, however, the buk is played on the knee. |
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Ching (large gong) Made from brass and of a diameter of about 60 centimeters. Played, or sounded, with a mallet wrapped in cloth or deerskin, the ching was originally used in military music. Currently, it is widely used in a variety of Korea traditional music including band music for royal processions, nongak, shaman ritual music and Buddhist music. It is held in the left hand by a handle suspended by a cord running through two holes at the top and struck with the right hand.