Byung-ki Hwang
Kayakum Masterpieces
SEM Gramophone (South Korea) 1978
SEL-100 069 (LP) w/company’s inner sleeve.
sleeve : EX(slightly hairlines on front.)
media : EX-/EX(some slightly noises. side A has some light noises.)
This is the first volume of the <Masterpieces> series released in 1979 by Hwang Byung-ki, a master of the gayageun, a traditional Korean stringed instrument. The music is not avant-garde in sound like "Masterpieces III> that I introduced it on the guidebook OBSCURE SOUND REVISED EDITION, but rather a leisurely enjoyment of the slow, floating melody and tone of gayageun with its unique minimalism played with a large drum called janggu, which is played by tapping with a bachi (a wooden mallet). Like Laraaji, who was discovered by Brian Eno in the '70s, this music is folkloric, yet ambient. It is wonderful. Highly recommended.
A1: Forest
B1: Fall
B3: Chimhyang-moo