Byungki Hwang – Darha Nopigom (Gayageum Masterpiece Vol. 5) / 2LP C&L Music

“Many westerners will know little of the vibrant musical cultures of the East. The traditional music of South Korea found in Darha Nopigom uses 12 note scales, but the pitch and intervals are different to their western equivalent,

as are the ‘modes’ used to determine the key, which along with rhythmic flexibility and the way the instruments are strung lends the music an other-worldly quality. As the superb sleeve notes explain Byungki Hwang (1936-2018)

was a celebrated composer and performer who plays a 12 or 17 string gayageum on three of the tracks. There is also a geomungo (zither), an hour glass shaped drum the janggu, a daegeum (flute) and three numbers with vocals.

The music is immensely varied, using traditional material and more contemporary idioms, but even in the faster sections there is an underlying current of quiet contemplation and this really is an exceptional album, full of beautiful music,

beautifully performed. The LPs are identical to a digital album published in 2007 with the addition of the last track recorded at the composer’s home in 2016. The lacquers were cut from 24/192 digital masters, which explains why the sound

is so good, with plenty of body, projection, depth, clarity and definition where instrumental timbres are vividly realised.”
(Rob Pennock, Classical Source)

The renowned South Korean label Analogphonic commissioned Maarten de Boer and Emil Berliner Studios to produce the audiophile edition of this highly acclaimed recording of traditional Korean music. The result does justice to the

outstanding musical quality of the recording in every respect and sets new standards in sound quality. The reissue of the double LP of “Darha Nopigom (Gayageum Masterpiece Vol. 5)” was pressed by Pallas Group GmbH in Germany on

high-quality 180-gram vinyl (33 RPM).

Byeongki Hwang (gayageum)
Chungsu Kim (janggu),
Chongjin Hong (daegeum)
Yoonjeong Heo (geomungo)
Kwonsoon Kang (vocals)
Jiyoung Yi (gayageum)

We recommend the use of "L'Art du Son" LP cleaner to wet wash your vinyl. Even new records of high quality production will benefit from this.

Title

LP 1

Side A

1-5. Darha Nopigom
6. Jasi (Night Watch)

Side B

1-4. Sigyetap (The Clock Tower)
5-8. Nakdoeum

LP 2

Side C

1-3. Hamadan
4-6. Chahyangije (Two Poems On The Fragrance Of Tea)

Side D

1. Moon Of My Hometown
2. Chucheonsa (Swinging Song)
3. Chimhyang-Moo For Gayageum Solo