Byungki Hwang - Musical Dynamo from South Korea

Underlying the rich variety of traditional musics worldwide is a variety of aesthetics and of purpose. Stylistic factors can have cultural, even philosophical roots and, although understanding this web of cause and effect is primarily the job of the musicologist, the amateur music-lover's experience of listening to music can surely be enhanced by some well-chosen contextual information. I'm grateful therefore to the issuers of the five book-and-CD volumes of Byungki Hwang - Kayagum Masterpieces, which document the work of an important South Korean composer and musician. Each of the sets combines fascinating music with beautiful B&W photography and an unusually rich and thoughtful set of notes (be aware, though, that all the sets have most of their notes in common).


The kayagum is an indigenous Korean zither, with close relatives in other Asian countries (e.g. Japan's koto, with which it shares a Chinese ancestor, the zheng). The accompanying notes refer to yet another zither, China's qin, with its playing tradition, dating back to Confucius, encouraging of introspection - to "please the mind, not the ear". There's certainly an introspective quality to much of this music, which may strike unfamiliar ears as stark minimalism. A meditative approach to listening is richly repaid, however. Hwang writes about the importance of the decay of a single plucked note, and how this arises from the Oriental philosophical aesthetic of man acting in accordance with nature ("The philosophy of the Orient is predominantly mystic."). Parallels are drawn with the spaces left in traditional Oriental paintings. Plenty of food for thought then, but the music is of course paramount...

Hwang is an accomplished musician who has been highly influential in the resurgence of the kayagum since the post-war emergence of South Korea, from the shadow of Japanese imperialism. He offers a great variety of sounds and styles across, and within each of, the five volumes. Both folk- and court-music traditions are drawn upon in his compositions. Strings are plucked, strummed, arpeggiated, lengthened for tonal variation and vibrato, and the body of the kayagum is used for percussive effects. The instrument is played solo, in combination with other Korean traditional instruments, and with voice. The results range from the traditional-sounding, meditative music described above, to an occasional verging on the avant-garde, with much in between.

This series is a feast for music-lovers, and should not be missed by anyone with an interest in Oriental music. Sound samples are available from Byungki Hwang's site. The discs are available, along with many other great South Korean cultural products, from the Seoul Selection bookstore.

Meditative Mountain Music

"Music of Central Asia is a co-production of the Aga Khan Music Initiative in Central Asia, a program of the Aga Khan Trust for Culture, and the Smithsonian Institution Center for Folklife and Cultural Heritage. The aim of the series is to present leading exponents of Central Asia's rich and diverse musical heritage to listeners outside the region."


So says the blurb on the back cover of the CD/DVD set "Tengir Too - Mountain Music of Kyrgyzstan", which is Volume One of the series.

Tengir Too is an ensemble formed to modernise Kyrgyzstan's folk music tradition, which historically was played solo by shepherds on a range of wind and string instruments as well as the so-called Jew's Harp*. The ensemble music is true to the roots of the music, and represents a gentle experimentalism. A wide range of exotic and beautiful sounds is on offer here, and the accompanying DVD contains some intimate performances and interviews, plus spectacular scenery.

A lovely package, highly recommended. Sound samples are here.

* Having heard both instruments, I wonder whether this colloquial name is due to the tiny instrument's sonic resemblance to the ancient Begenna, or Harp of David, still played in Ethiopia. See here for a sample of that tradition of spiritual music.

A Blind Anatolian Bard

Aşık Veysel (d. 1973) was a blind Turkish poet and minstrel, who accompanied himself on the bağlama (a.k.a. saz, a lute common to many Muslim cultures). I picked up a CD of his music during a trip to Turkey a couple of years ago. I don't understand the poetic Turkish lyrics, but I do understand the beautiful sound of a man deeply absorbed in music-making. If you like melismatic Asian vocal music, or are an adventurous music-lover, you should check it out.

Here is an effectively translated sample of Veysel's poetry. Clearly I can't vouch for the accuracy of the translation.



Here is the CD for sale online, with sound samples. I can recommend the vendor.

Hideo Gosha's "Goyokin"

Hideo Gosha is a prolific Japanese director whose output includes some excellent films, many in the Samurai genre. "Goyokin" is a stellar example. It stars Tatsuya Nakadai who also featured in the superb "Harakiri", and this film explores similar themes: in particular, the depravity and hypocrisy rife within the Shogunate.


Nakadai plays Magobei, a noble Samurai driven into self-exile when he can no longer countenance the evil ways of his fellows, who fund their domain criminally and with no regard for the terrible human cost. Hating himself for his cowardice, he gets wind of an upcoming heist, and returns to tie up the loose ends he left three years ago.

The film looks fabulous - the cinematographer makes much of the barren, snow-swept coastline that plays a central role in the story; the rotten eaves of a deserted hut form an abstract silhouette against a dead, grey sky; all in all, a visual treat. There's also some enjoyable traditional Japanese music featured, not least a drumming ensemble that forms a dramatic backdrop to the film's final confrontation (there had to be one, right...?).

"Goyokin" is an action movie that is also a fine work of art, in the manner of a Sergio Leone Western. Tokyo Shock's R1 DVD is utterly recommendable.

Golden Age of Filmi

Indian film music (Filmi) is an endlessly inventive genre, with some stunning singers. Lata Mangeshkar is one of the greatest of these, and features heavily on this very nice album from Saregama, presenting soundtracks from three mid-C20 movies (Barsaat/ Aah / Aag).



Really enjoyable, rich and varied Indian sounds in a popular, accessible context - open-minded music-lovers will love this.

Absurdity of Love: Wong Kar Wai's "Ashes of Time, Redux"

Wong Kar Wai's films (those that I've seen, anyway) are light-hearted, nostalgic affairs that portray the absurdities to which we subject ourselves in the name of love. Ashes of Time, Redux presents this theme with a twist: the film is set in the sword-filled hinterlands of ancient China.



Plot-wise, this is an enigmatic film, but to my mind plot is almost incidental... mood takes precedence here, and I'd recommend not taking the more cryptic aspects of the story too seriously. It's a ravishingly beautiful movie - Christopher Doyle's cinematography steals the show, the landscapes being particularly spectacular, and the costumes are great.

All in all, a highly memorable, vaguely tongue-in-cheek tale of forsaken love, longing, and epic desert sword-fights. Just watch it!

Artificial Eye's UK DVD is brilliant. There's also a Blu-ray version available.

Joint Security Area

National tragedy begets personal tragedy. "Joint Security Area" is an investigation of one such tragic event and its aftermath, portraying individual soldiers violently torn between their personal needs and the national political agenda they serve. It's a gripping police procedural, threaded with powerful humanism.




The film's milieu is the titular area forming the border between the Koreas. A shooting incident takes place late one night in a Northern sentry post, leaving two Northerners dead and a Southerner wounded. How did a Southern soldier end up in a Northern station - was it a kidnapping, a maverick attack, or something else? Was someone else present in the hut on that fateful night, as evidenced by a missing bullet? A Swiss national with Korean roots is assigned by the on-site international peace-keepers to solve the mystery, and thus calm a Korean peninsula tense in the wake of this cross-border aggression.

"JSA" features excellent acting by top-class talent such as Song Kang-ho ("Memories of Murder") and Lee Byung-hun ("A Bittersweet Life"). Edko's Region 3 DVD is good value, e.g. http://www.hmv.com.hk/product/product.asp?sku=220425.

Korean Boxing Movie with a Serious Emotional Punch

I watched this film recently, and it so surpassed my expectations that I just had to blog about it. "Crying Fist" is about two down-and-out people who enter a national boxing competition as a way to regain status and self-esteem. The elder contestant is played by the ubiquitous, and excellent Choi Min-sik (Oldboy) in a tremendous performance! All of the acting is great, and I defy anyone to get to the end of this film without getting swept up by the emotionally powerful climax.



The quality of the UK DVD is pretty good, and it's available at absurdly low prices (< £1) via Amazon UK marketplace.

Highly recommended!

Poetry and Mayhem, Korean Style

Kim Ji-woon's "A Bittersweet Life" is a superb, modern film noir. Gripping from start to finish, it intersperses a stream of suspense and ultra-violence with glimpses of poetry which ultimately hold the film together and provide meaning. The overall effect is highly memorable, not least due to the film's rich visual beauty.

Tartan's DVD transfer is recommendable.

Audio Ginei* Pig? Try This!

This CD recommendation is for adventurous listeners, or for those already turned on to the beauty of traditional or classical Asian vocal music. Each song in this compilation is a recital of poetry, sung in a highly melismatic style, with a "tightened throat" intonation that gave the genre, Ginei, its name. There is very little rhythmic propulsion to the tunes - the voices conjure an effect like fragrant smoke rising from a brazier, hanging lightly in the air. The compiled singers are beautifully accompanied by instruments that vary from track to track, ranging from traditional Japanese instruments to a tasteful solo organ(!)).


Most of the notes are in Japanese, though there is a brief paragraph in English on the Ginei genre (much appreciated by this gaijin). The recordings are high-quality mono, which leads me to believe that they were made in the late 50's / early 60's - I thus assume that this is a compilation of historical Ginei recordings, and the superb quality suggests a prime period for the genre.

Sound samples and CD available at HMV Japan: http://www.hmv.co.jp/product/detail/1937103

^* Yes, I know how to spell Guinea, thanks. Jeez!

Great Japanese Cinema, Part 1 of Many

I saw a lot of films in 2008, and none impressed me more than this one: "Hara Kiri" (a.k.a. "Harakiri") (1963), by Masaki Kobayashi.

Hara Kiri is set in 17th Century Japan: the consolidation of power within the Shogunate is causing many clans to disintegrate, leaving many former Samurai doomed to subsist as desperate Ronin. The film is a dark, stirring, and far-reaching commentary on society and societal institutions: hypocrisy, shallowness, and abuse of power are powerfully addressed.

The acting is superb, with a tremendous lead performance from Tatsuya Nakadai, one of the greatest of Japanese actors and a long-time collaborator with Akira Kurosawa (e.g. Ran; Kagemusha). The music, composed by Toru Takemitsu, is particularly effective and yet another reason to see this film.

The film scooped the Cannes Special Jury Prize, which (at the time of the award) was the second most important award of the Cannes Film Festival.

I recommend Criterion's DVD, which is typically excellent, and comes with many extras.