Korean janggo drums donated by Arts Umbrella
The UBC School of Music is delighted to receive a generous gift of seven South Korean drums from the Arts Umbrella. These hourglass-shaped drums are called janggo, which translates to “stick drum,” and are crafted with bodies made out of paulownia wood and drumheads fashioned from cow and dog leather. Janggo drums are traditionally used in South Korea in recreational, concert-hall, and religious contexts.
“We at UBC are extremely grateful for the generous donation of South Korean drums from Arts Umbrella. These instruments are beautiful examples of the janggo, or South Korean hourglass drum, and they exhibit a range of varnishes and designs. The collection will benefit and complement the instruments UBC music already possesses, helping to enhance our Korean percussion ensemble and performance and composition opportunities for our students.”
These instruments were expertly crafted by members of the South Korean percussion group SamulNori Hanullim—eight dynamic musicians and dancers dedicated to performing and preserving traditional Korean music and dance. Dr. Hesselink, also the Director of the UBC Korean Percussion Ensemble, has written extensively about the SamulNori.
The UBC School of Music embraces this extraordinary donation and looks forward to the enriching experiences that it will give to our students. These beautiful janggo drums will resonate through the halls of UBC, enriching its musical and educational landscape.
