Song gyeonggeun’s Hun, Kim Donggeun’s Tungso, and Kim Hyoyeong’s Saenghwang

New Sanjo Pieces Attempted through Three Instruments

Sanjo, or heoteungarak, are compositions that bring together scattered melodies to form a piece of music. They were arguably formed in the 19th century, led by gayageum players. The various forms of sanjo recorded on SP records in the early 20th century demonstrate how much the masters of the time loved the genre. They created sanjo by combining and dividing preexisting musical chunks and employing their musical imaginative power, based on respective masters' unique styles – it was a process in which the life of sanjo sprouted and blossomed. However, for a time, sanjo was regarded as something to be preserved, and thereby became rigid and inflexible.

Recently, there are those who have breathed new life into traditional instruments through sanjo – Song Gyeonggeun (Hun Sanjo), Kim Donggeun (Tungso Sanjo), and Kim Hyoyeong (Saenghwang Sanjo). The opportunity to experience the new sanjo pieces for these three instruments is prepared by the 2025 Jeonju International Sori Festival. The melodies have been added and restructured to suit the unique structures of these instruments, which were once considered “supporting” ones. Of course, the audience's exclamation will be added to the sanjo performance. Master percussionists Kang Seonil, Hwang Minwang, and Choi Yeongseok will perform on stage with them.