The city residents were treated to ‘Samul Nori,’ a Korean music performance, by Noreum Machi, a percussion group and music ensemble, on Gandhi Museum premises here on Friday evening.
The five-member Noreum Machi sang folk songs to the accompaniment of percussion instruments such as Janggu (a double-headed hourglass drum), Buk (double- headed barrel drum) and Jing and Kkaewanggwari (metal gongs). They also played wind instruments such as Piri (double-reed Korean oboe) and Taepyungso (double-reed instrument).
Its manager Seong hee OH said the music they performed was known as ‘Pungmul’ in Korea. “It is also accompanied by acrobatics and dances by the performers — known as ‘Sangmo’ — and the movements are accentuated by the swishing and twirling ribbons attached to the hats of performers,” she said.
The complicated movements, performed while singing and playing, received a loud applause from the audience who enjoyed the synchronised movements of the colourful ribbons.
The second part of the performance involved contemporary Korean music with foot-tapping beats.
Kyungsoo Kim, Consul General of the Republic of Korea, who welcomed the audience, said that it was the first time that ‘Samul Nori’ was being presented in Madurai. “We hope to become better friends with people here through this cultural programme,” he said.
Korean delicacyThere was a chance to taste ‘Bibim-bap,’ a Korean delicacy of rice, vegetables and hot sauce, cooked in a large wok. “Eight vegetables such as red and white radish, zucchini, aubergine, mushroom, carrot and spinach were mixed with rice and topped with a hot sauce called ‘Gochujang,”said Chungmee Kim, the wife of the Consul General who supervised the preparation and serving of the dish. She was adorned in ‘hanbok,’ a Korean attire made of silk with intricate embroidery work.
