Brief Background of "Guyun: El Maestro"

Cuban music, similar to Caribbean music, is largely a mixture of African and Spanish origins. Although the first Cuban musical forms were directly imported from Europe, music in Cuba began to see the gradual transformation of European and African forms as the distinction became obscure by the 18th century. There are many different kinds of Cuban music, including, Son, Guajira, Bolero, Rumba, Cha-cha-cha, etc., but Guyun: El Maestro is a slow traditional Cuban music with a feel of jazz and complex rhythmic patterns.

José Antonio Nico Rojas was born in Havana, Cuba, in 1921. As a civil engineer, guitarist, and composer, he was involved in the ‘Feeling’ movement of Cuban music, which combined Cuban rhythms with elements of North American Jazz elements in the 1940s and 1950s. Until 1964, when he recorded his first album “Suite Cubana para Guitarra,” he worked as an architect and took music only as one of his hobbies. However, he became more serious about composing and performing his pieces and influenced Cuban culture.

Brief Background of "Arirang for Gayageums with 18 and 25 Strings"

Korean music reached the ultimate peak around 15th century, but the Japanese invasion destroyed its tradition for almost 40 years. In 1945, Korean music was once again reestablished, but following the separation of South and North Korea, one culture was also split and developed its own unique characteristics. In South Korea after the separation, various type of music evolved, such as Pansori, a traditional singing performance with famous love stories and satires, Pungmul, one of Korea’s folk music, and Nongak, another type of Korean folk music that serves as a powerful superstition.

Arirang is one of Korean folk songs that are widely recognized not only in Korea, but in many other cultures. It is difficult to know exactly where and when Arirang first originated, but it is assumed to be the 19th century, when people began to experience realities and hardships of their lives. Today there are various versions of Arirang with modified melodies, rhythms, and refrains that appeal to many people in different regions and ages. This version, Arirang for Gayageums with 18 and 25 Strings, is played by two different kinds of zithers. Arirang is usually played or performed with refrains, but it has lately been played with different instruments and techniques.