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OzAsia Festival Music Review: Synergy Percussion Meets Noreum Machi

Synergy Percussion Meets Noreum Machi

Synergy Percussion and Korean music group Noreum Machi reveal that traditional and contemporary are perfect partners in this world-first music project.

Synergy Percussion Meets Noreum Machi Presented by: Adelaide Festival Centre
Reviewed  12 August 2014

Synergy Percussion are looking very good in their 40th birthday year and they’re sounding even better. Their rendezvous with Korean music group Noreum Machi in the intimate Space Theatre revealed that traditional and contemporary can not only play nicely together, they are, in this world-first music project, perfect partners.

The quartet from Sydney (Timothy Constable, Bree van Reyk, Joshua Hill and Tim Brigden) teamed with the quintet from South Korea (Ju-Hong Kim, Ho Won Lee, Hyun Ju Oh, Young Jun Kim, and Tae Ho Kim) for an animated and passionate performance that got up close and personal with the mechanics of making music; Synergy Percussion Meets Noreum Machi style.

Standing out, not only for the imagined freight headache, was John Cage’s Third Construction. The largest array of congas in Festival Theatre memory (eleven!) were shipped in, along with some tin cans and a conch; an amazing performance resulting.

Omphalo Centric Lecture by Nigel Westlake for marimba quartet shone, with Synergy’s Artistic Director Timothy Constable revealing in the vocal part, he also has great pipes. The talents didn’t stop there as the group then performed Constable’s own Last Waltz and Wastelands; Constable’s transparent joy matching the audience’s, as Hill went to town on the cymbals.

After interval, Noreum Machi entered from the audience doors with Gilsori, a blessing for the happiness of family and neighbours, followed by the magnificent song, Passing Rain played on the hourglass shaped Jang-gu, the double headed drum. The sounds of cool and heavy rain showers were intended to wash away all worries for those suffering from hardships. Mission accomplished!

Noreum Machi Pan Gut performed with Samul instruments was an extraordinary spectacle. Wearing the traditional Sangmo (hat with long ribbons) the group tilted and nodded their heads to pay respect to the land and heavens, resulting in harmonious ribbon patterns accompanying the delightful music.

Featuring the beautiful timbre of the Taepyongso (conical double-reeded oboe) East Wind nearly blew away the audience, before KTRap (Korean Traditional Rap) amazed as the traditional vocal percussion cleverly mimicked the sound of four instruments. Concluding, Noreum Machi Artistic Director Ju-Hong Kim invited the audience to clap and sing along, and even attempt some Korean words (his English was a lot better than our Korean.) A standing ovation reflected how well the show was received.

Synergy Percussion Meets Noreum Machi highlighted the universality of the language of music. This was a fabulous experience from being inspired by the performer’s enthusiasm, feeling the energizing beats right through the seat, and learning a catchy Korean tune that was hummed all the way home.

I could bang on all day about how great these performers are… I hope you found out yourselves when the beat went on for a final show on Saturday night.

Reviewed by Gordon Forester
Twitter: @GordonForester

Venue: Adelaide Festival Theatre
Season: 12-13 September 2014
Duration: 1 hour 40 minutes

 

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