Another step in my journey with gugak, the traditional music of Korea: I completed Nonghyun, a string quintet with gayageum, the traditional Korean plucked string instrument. More specifically, I composed for sanjo gayageum, a 12-string variety, which is quite challenging to work with in a chromatic context. Nonghyun is the technical term for the wide vibrato typical of this instrument – a sound largely foreign to Western strings and therefore, tasty to explore in chamber music. Gayageum master Ji Aeri will join the marvelous Borromeo String Quartet for the premiere in late October at the Pacific Rim Music Festival!
