Noreum Machi

Noreum Machi has recently received a great deal of attention in Korea and around the world. At the same time the group is determined to avoid being bound by the past and to communicate with audiences in here and now. Critics and audiences have called Noreum Machi a fascinating and future-oriented ensemble because of the way the artists connect with the audience, the obvious pleasure they take in performing, and the profound emotions they share as they move back and forth between past and present.

About Samul-nori
Noreum Machi specializes in the virtuosic percussion music known as Samul-nori. This exciting music, first introduced to the West in the late 1970s by the legendary ensemble, Samul-nori is a modernized-staged adaptation of the ancient Pungmul-nori, famers’ ritual that had its origin in shamanism and animism. Samul-nori(Samul means “four objects” and Nori means “play”) is performed primarily with four traditional instruments; Jang-gu, Buk, Jing, and Kkwaenggwari. Other instruments used are the Taepyongso and Piri. Each of the four main instruments represents different elements of nature: the Jang-gu represents Rain, the Buk Clouds, the Jing Wnd, and the Kkwaenggwari Thunder Storm. Yin and Yang is also reflected: the Buk and the Jang-gu represent the sound of the earth, while the Jing and the Kkwaenggwari represent the sound of the heaven.

"Spectacular percussion dialogues, shamanic chants and acrobatic dances! Noreum Machi is a captivating group that performs the virtuosic percussion, vocal and dance tradition. I knew Noreum Machi’s blending of the traditional with contemporary and the group’s commitment to touring and reaching new audiences made this group an easy choice."
Isabel Soffer (World Music Institute)

Noreum Machi are that rarest of great artists. They have mastered their art form with a skill, musicality, athleticism, grace and profundity of tradition that justly earns them accolades at home and abroad. But they bring an additional, more unique skill as well. They are consummate professionals who know how to stage their show, how to pace it, when to unveil dynamic highlights and when to settle in for subtler moments of reflection. Watching them, one can only marvel at artists at the top of their form, artists who know their art, their audiences and how to get their desired effect. It is that artistry and these combined skills that opens Noreum Machi up to new audiences who may never even have known of these traditions. It is this that makes them ideal ambassadors for Korean music. Heartfelt!
Gerald Seligman (International Music Industry Professional/Consultant/Producer)

I highly recommend this group, they were an absolute hit at our festival and perform a style of music called Samul Nori, which combines dance and percussion. Although this is a very traditional form of Korean music, this group has managed to contemporize it in such a manner to maintain the traditional framework and yet make it fresh. They are excellent musicians, they represent their country and music style extremely well, and they are very colourful and exciting!
Randy Raine-Reusch (Rainforest World Music Festival)

"With a colorful programme of spectacular percussion performance, haunting shamanic chants and entrancing acrobatic dances, Noreum Machi really took the stage by storm. With vibrant skills and positive outlook, Noreum Machi is surely all set to rock the world music stage."
Antonia Chiam (Eastern Times)

Noreum Machi’s tour in U.S has given many Americans-particularly young Americans. - their first taste of the acrobatic dances, mysterious chants and lavish yet elegant costumes that create the setting for Noreum Machi's instrumental virtuosity. Although a 24-hour blizzard had descended on Philly shortly before Noreum Machi took the stage, the audience wanted more. I heard people telling Ju Hong Kim and his colleagues that they would certainly be playing a larger venue the next time they returned to tour in the States.
Amber Dorko Stopper (Korean Quately in Philadelphia)