It has been a while since I have had my Geomungo bought. Playing it would definitely require courage and strength (not to mention a few aching fingers which now develop calluses). This is particularly bad for me as I hit the gym, which gave me hardened and rather flaky skin on the base of my finger, and I am a cream formulator as well. Now, my creams can mask the appearance of a hardened bumpy palm but it could not remove the hardness thereof… what a bummer.

However, the introduction has always been long and unrelated. Being an avid listener (or HEARER) of oriental music, I am extremely delighted to combine all of these different music together without compromising on the philosophy and musicology of the piece. What I have found out is rather interesting viz. the Geomungo is actually descended from the Qin. I know I am curious, hence the exploration and finally I have bought one from eBay (Thank you Carol!).

When my Geomungo arrived, I start to explore the ‘little dragon’ immediately. I tuned it to its traditional Sanjo tuning (E Flat major) but found it to be rather uninteresting sounding. However, I have used this tuning for quite a bit, almost for four months before changing it to Jeongak tuning during the Lunar New Year. After the tuning part, I start to fiddle around, establishing the position of the frets and determining the notes while noting down all of the frantically. Interestingly, although the Geomungo has 6 strings, only two can be stopped at the frets to produce different notes. This does limits its capability somehow but until this stage, this author finds it helpful rather than hindering.

The first piece I played on my Geomungo is ‘Thrice Parting at the Western Border’ or in Chinese Pinyin, ‘Yang Guan San Die’. It affords to play out the tonality as well as the modality of the Qin, partly because the notes are so malleable by navigating up and down frets and mostly because of its silken strings; Qin is supposed to be strung with silk instead of a silk and/or nylon wrapped steel wires.

After which, I got ambitious and try to play ‘Wild Duck Descending On Level Sand’, ‘Ping Sha Luo Yan’ and the piece turns out to be fine. When the necessary expression is added and proper ornamentation is done, the piece came to life as if it’s been played on a Qin. Until now I am still practising with this piece. Such lovely piece symbolising the Ming dynasty hope as it is composed in the last few years of the Ming dynasty. Hopefully the true intention of this piece could be realised.

Why the Geomungo?

The Qin has been quite hyped up lately and not that I did not learn the Qin in the first place. I did and I did not like it for the sheer reason that those who play it thought of themselves as a high status ‘Yangban’! It is sad but important to note that authentic Chinese music consists of more than just a Qin. Nobody bothers about the Se and surely, nobody bothers about the ‘Elegant Music’ which is supposedly out proper music.

Seeing such predicament and being someone who loves diverse culture so much, I start to choose from a myriad of oriental instruments to cultivate my yearning for a sophisticated instrument; one that can help me to achieve inner peace while stoic enough to help me contemplate. I choose the Geomungo for this. It is the elder of Korean musical instruments and the history of its creation is not as mythical. It is used as a contemplative instrument in the medieval Korean society and it has the philosophy similar to the Qin. Not to mention that the cost of a professional Geomungo is far cheaper as compared to a Qin of similar standard.

Also, this is not all about music and/or interest. As wondrous and splendid Chinese culture has been, now it has been shrouded in mystery, so much so that the inhabitants are totally unaware of proper Chinese culture. We have lost our identity, rituals, and propriety that defines us as a Chinese proper. Though I won’t hesitate to say that current Chinese culture does have its value and needed to be preserved, a significant amount of treasure is yet to be unearthed in order to cultivate a better and cultured Chinese society.

Well, even Confucius said before,

“If propriety and decorum are lost, you would need to find it from the wilderness”

Essentially, Confucius is not referring to ants, tigers, or hippopotamus (though Jewish teaching does reflect on animals giving life lessons as exemplified by their behaviours) but he is saying that if these matters so innately connected to Chinese culture is lost (which shouldn't be the case), please seek it back from neighbouring countries.

The Progress

This author would definitely tweets and writes more about his life with his beloved Geomungo. Now he is perfecting the ‘Wild Ducks Descending on Level San’ but occassionally he would be found strumming mindlessly. This author promised to incorporate more Korean repertoire in the future. Stay tuned for his mishap and progress with his Geomungo.