Korean Drumming Concert with UMD Korean Percussion Ensemble

Experience the vibrant beat of samulnori under the direction of Sebastian Wang. This modern incarnation of traditional Korean folk music celebrates harvest time and provides a lively soundtrack to dancing. The ensemble is comprised of four types of percussion instruments—an hourglass drum, a barrel drum, a small gong, and a large gong—each representing a natural element: rain, clouds, lightning, and wind, respectively.

About UMD Korean Percussion Ensemble

The UMD Korean Percussion Ensemble was formed in 2009 under the direction of Sebastian Wang and is one of the first of its kind in the United States. The ensemble learns and performs Korean percussion music from traditional p'ungmul farmers' bands music and contemporary samulnori pieces. Samulnori is a modern incarnation of traditional Korean folk music that celebrates harvest time and provides a lively soundtrack to dancing. The ensemble is comprised of four types of percussion instruments — an hourglass drum, a barrel drum, a small gong and a large gong, each representing a natural element: rain, clouds, lightning and wind, respectively.

The UMD Korean Percussion Ensemble often performs with members of Washington Samulnori, the professional samulnori ensemble formed and directed by Sebastian Wang. This ensemble hopes to promote and teach samulnori music, prolonging and protecting this genre's future in the United States.

About University of Maryland (UMD) School of Music

The University of Maryland School of Music provides an exceptional professional musical education within the context of a college of arts and humanities and a major research university.