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Soarirang

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Composer: Kyungtaek Kim / arr. Se-Mi Hwang

Instrument: Marimba with voice

Level: Intermediate/Advanced

Published: 2022

  • Description
Soarirang is originally composed for percussion ensemble, piri (a Korean double reed instrument) and taepyeongso by Kyungtaek Kim who is a Korean composer and percussionist. When South Korea successfully submitted the song for inclusion on the UNESCO list in 2012, Se-Mi Hwang arranged and added the piece with Arirang melody for solo Marimba.


  • Arirang is a Korean folk song and the lyrics which the player sings at the end of the piece mean:

    Arirang, Arirang, Arariyo
    Crossing over Arirang Pass.
    The one who abandoned me
    Shall not walk even 4 kilometers(10 li) before their feet hurt.

  •  

    Percussive Notes, February 2023
    • This solo arrangement of an ensemble piece blends the voice and marimba playing of a single player in a lovely, natural way. The flowing, lyrical marimba part seamlessly complements the vocal notes, especially if sung in a soprano range (as written). The melodic content that is mainly reinforced in the higher, right-hand upper range of the marimba combines with the soprano voice to create a timelessly beautiful effect.

    The notation is reminiscent of piano music, with the bulk of the melody notated in the right hand, in treble clef, and the accompaniment in the left hand, in bass clef. This creates an especially demanding left-hand part, but adds to the virtuosic nature of the piece. There are minimal performance instructions, but the fluid, yet precisely notated nature of the work lends itself well to individual expression, while still keeping with the composer’s intent. The variety of techniques called for, including one-handed rolls, chorale- style fast arpeggiation, a wide dynamic range, playing mallet handles on the bars, changing keys, and vocalizing while playing truly make this piece a tour-de-force that is a perfect opener or closer on any professional performance or advanced student presentation.

    For those who wish to play the marimba part only, or for those who cannot render the vocal part in its notated octave, acquiring a vocalist to sing the text at the end of the piece would still make for an excellent performance. The tender, poignant lyrics, sung in Korean, translate to:

    Arirang, Arirang, Arariyo
    Crossing over Arirang Pass.
    The one who abandoned me
    Shall not walk even 4 kilometers before their feet hurt.

    —Cassie Bunting