Only a Traditional Music-Lover Can Master a Musical Instrument

By Kim Yun hee, Tribune Reporter

  As the storm hits the streets, the trees along the roadside drop their fruit to the ground. Riding bus 38 to my destination, I get off at the Dong-gu District Office. There lies the Indang Traditional Musical Instrument Shop. Unlike many other cultural asset shops, which usually lie in suburbia or rural areas this place is located s in the heart of downtown. , Today’s interviewee bravely decided to set up shop here.

Inside the Shop

  From the outside the place is typical of any music shop, selling and displaying traditional instruments. . As I stepped inside, I could see display exhibits and products on the right with   various huge machines on the left.  After a few minutes, the owner showed up. From his appearance I could tell he had just been working on some particular job.  Wearing only a running singlet, I perused my interviewee; master traditional music instrument-maker 58 year-old Lee Chun-bong. He was designated as a Human Cultural Asset of Gwangju City in 1979.

His Childhood 

  Lee was born in Jeonju, North Jeolla Province. As you may guess from his family name, he is a descendant of the royal family of the Josun Dynasty. Actually he is the 19th direct descendant of Prince Hyoryong and as such grew up in a stern family household. At that time he could not even blow a whistle at home.  When he was young, Lee showed artistic talents. He believed that this talent was inherited from his father. “My father died young. But I can remember that he had been a skilled craftsman. My father enjoyed making things in his spare time.”
  Like his father, Lee even made his own guns for hunting.  . He also drew pictures very well. But he gave up this skill. When it came to music, however, it was a totally different story. As he was growing up, he was tempted by the charm of music. Lee recollected how when he was a young child that, “Whenever a beggar visited our neighborhood I followed him with curiosity, not knowing anything about traditional music at all. It was, however, the music that attracted me. After the Korean War broke out, survival itself was hard enough, and we gradually lost our culture, especially music. Traditional music, for instance, was once regarded as the music of Gisaeng, professional women entertainers. So learning traditional music seemed impossible forme in many ways.”
However, he took part in a brass band at high school.  At university, he majored in electrics. Then he inherited a marble factory that he and his brother ran. . At the age of 25 after finishing his military service, he learned music instrument making under the master tutelage of the late, Kim Gwang-ju. He acquired the relevant “know-how” from his master.  Furthermore his knowledge of hand held electronic machines was very helpful to his career.

His Religion and Work

  “The most important things in my life are my work and my religion. Though humble, I am devoted to God as an elder at church. I start each day with morning worship at 4: 30 am. During my hour’s adoration, I get inspiration for my works in progress. . Adoration has a meditating effect on me.”
He takes great pride in Korean traditional music and instruments. “I am sure that Korean traditional music has such a charm that it can achieve a world-wide reputation. I am proud of myself that I have been its, voice” he said. He makes it a rule to follow traditional methods and to shape his instruments accordingly. Nowadays, it is irresistible to follow the changes of time. So the instruments are transformed into modern styles:  easy to play and bigger than before. However, what he worries about is that they lack   a unique color and sound. That is why he tries to preserve the old traditional methods.
  It is said that some players, who are acquainted with modernized instruments which do not need strong arm muscles, complain of playing Lee’s instruments. It is true that they are not easy to play. However, once familiar with his instruments players cannot forget their sound. In this way, they become his patrons. “It is my pleasure to hear people proclaim that they now cannot play other instruments but mine.”

Patented Instruments

  Most traditional instruments are made of wood. A major feature of wood is that it is sensitive to humidity and heat. No matter how good it is, it may become warped as time goes by. Aside from this, another reason for warping is the method of assembly.  According to traditional methods, wooden panels were assembled together. Even though the outside may look fine, the inside may be warped a little bit. This leads to changes in sound.
  Master Lee  has developed better time resistant instruments by using - logs instead of wooden panels, and by drilling through the logs and making a huge groove in them. This drilling method which Lee has patented makes sound easily. He said, “My skill is from the knowledge of the marble factory. ? Using this method I could make all kinds of musical instruments. But I have not announced this method to the public in great detail. I am afraid of it being used by unscrupulous instrument makers, so I have decided to patent it. I will pour 30 years of my expertise and experience into it. I plan on displaying my new instruments next May.”

An Ancient Musical Instrument Resurrected by the Hand of Master Lee

  In 1997, some archaeologists excavated old remains in the Shinchang-dong, suburb of Gwangju. In the heaps of earth, lay an old 10 chord instrument in partially ruined condition. This instrument dated back to the 1st century B.C. To restore the epochal ancient instrument, researchers at National Museum thought that Master Lee was the right man for the job.
  At this opportunity, he dived fully into the restoration project. He and his colleague finally restored it. And they recently finished nationwide performances with the restored instrument-. He told me that he was honored to be able to do so and that it was thanks to the traditional making methods that he has stubbornly followed.

His Dreams 

  Lee just does not make musical instruments but cultural time pieces. They play on national emotions for thousands of years. He has continually strived to make traditional instruments and infuse his spirit into them for about 30 years now. His power of motivation to preserve the tradition comes from his everlasting love of our music. Whenever he hears the playing of traditional musical instruments, he cannot help but “dance” his shoulders up and down. He has a strong belief that anyone who knows the beauty and excitement of Korean music can continue this hard process.
  Lee as a master of the musical instrument which, deliver divine sound has two dreams: One is to create a department of traditional music instrument making at some universities. And the other is that our traditional music be worshipped during church service. Last but not least, as a traditional music lover as well as a servant of God, he wants traditional music to be popularized.