In the enchanted “Forest of Instrument Trees,” a vibrant scene comes to life. As haegeum and piri musicians perform with flair, their puppet counterparts proudly mimic their movements.
Yet, off to the side, the daegeum murmurs in low spirits, “Unlike other instruments, I’m hollow inside, so I can’t play a big role."
But the young hero Seonyul intervenes. “Because you’re hollow, there’s room for the sound to travel. Song carves a path through the heart."
Encouraged, the daegeum steps forward with newfound confidence and begins to play, evoking applause from other instruments.
The scene is from Monday's rehearsal of "Shinnarak Mannarak," the National Orchestra of Korea’s latest children’s concert, part of an on ongoing series since 2004 that aims to introduce traditional music to young children.
Inspired by the myth of Seolmundae Halmang — the grandmother goddess who created Jeju Island by scooping soil up from the sea — the story follows Seonyul (whose name means “melody” in Korean), a child who is the only one able to sing in a world without music.
Seonyul sets out to find the "Giant God," who is said to grant wishes, hoping to bring back her mother who has gone far away for work. Along the way, Seonyul stumbles into a magical realm of music, befriends a caterpillar named Omul — small in size but big in heart — and discovers the distinct sounds and charms of traditional Korean instruments.
The title comes from a phrase in the Jeju dialect meaning “when gods and humans meet and rejoice together.”
The 60-minute show includes a 10-piece ensemble, four actors and an array of expressive puppets.
Veteran pansori performer and director Park In-hye said she “wanted to capture the analog beauty that comes with well-crafted puppets."
Composer and music director Lee Go-woon, a mother of two, noted that she approached the work with her own children in mind. “I wanted this to be something my kids could genuinely enjoy — a way for them to experience the charm of gugak naturally and joyfully. My hope is that after the show, they’ll still be humming the melodies."
“It’s an experience where they get to know each instrument,” said Oh Kyung-ja, concert master and geomungo player of the NGO. "Many of our musicians have said they can’t wait to show this to their own children — that’s how much it means to us."
"Shinnarak Mannarak" will run April 22 to May 4 at the National Theater of Korea’s Haneul Theater in Seoul.
hwangdh@heraldcorp.com
