wood sounds

Tim S remembered these sounds from his childhood in Japan:

His retweet reminded me I was moved by similar wood sounds ( mok tak sounds) carried on the wind from an unseen temple through the mountains in Sorak Mountain National Park in South Korea over 35 years ago. I felt as if I had been transported to another world.

천상의꽃 Heavenly Flower

I edited the lyrics to reflect the association the wood sounds brought to mind...

Lyrics 천진화 melody 강주현

인연 따라 왔다
By karma we arrive
인연 따라 가는 인생
By karma we leave life
나무아미타불 나무아미타불
Save us, merciful Buddha
목탁소리 도량을 휘 돌아나갈제
Moktak sounds float round the temple...

...The soft sound of the wind chimes goes round
그리워라 그리워라
Longing, longing
은은히 피어나는 천상의 바람
The indistinct pealing of a heavenly breeze

Not to go all mystical, just a brief respite for me from Colonel Kurtz and the Heart of Darkness news feed.

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QMS's picture

kinda reminds me of the way
woodpeckers communicate
not sure they are actually
drilling for bugs as much as
their brains are being syncopated
into a cosmic rhythm of sorts

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soryang's picture

@QMS

I think I'll make the effort this weekend to visit the local park. Sometimes there is a woodpecker busy there making those wonderful sounds. Tak..tak.tak, d, d, d, rurrreeerrr. That's amazing when the frequency becomes so great it sounds continuous.

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語必忠信 行必正直

janis b's picture

especially for Heavenly Flower. The song is very melodic and soothing. It sounds familiar to me. Is it a classic song?

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soryang's picture

@janis b

Sometimes when I hear these traditional songs I try to find the history as well. A routine search of South Korean sites where I usually find the lyrics did not reveal the date or the bio of the lyric writer or composer. There is a historical figure 천진화 Cheon Jin-hwa (1883-1947) who was a significant figure in the Korean independence movement, who actually lived in Hawaii for a while, but most of these emigrees were Christians. I am at loss here. If I ever find out, I will post it.

Glad you enjoyed the song/hymn, Janis!

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soryang's picture

@janis b

I couldn't find the lyrics writer anywhere, but I think I found the composer Kang Joo-hyun.

Graduated from Sungshin Women's University, Department of Instrumental Music
Doctorate in Music Education, Boston University
Currently a lecturer at Konkuk University

So Heavenly Flower is most likely contemporary. Kim Joo-hyun does compositions for quite a bit of Buddhist hymns. The Buddhist theme is obvious in Heavenly Flower and other compositions. Ms. So said she thought the lyrics of Heavenly Flower were virtually lifted more or less from Buddhist scriptures, themes often heard in Buddhist homilies. So it sounds traditional but I think its a more contemporary composition perhaps similar in nature to prior unrelated hymn traditions, it's in that genre anyway. It's often sung by Korean choirs.

His music doesn't get a lot of hits on youtube, but I like how it sounds too. This is his youtube channel: Kim Chu-hyun

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語必忠信 行必正直

janis b's picture

@soryang

for describing further the background of the music, and information about the composer.

I’ve been enjoying the musical posts and accompanying images on the Kim Chu-hyun channel.

I hope you are both finding comfort in all the chaos you have had to endure.

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soryang's picture

@janis b

I know its not for everyone, so it's gratifying to learn you like it. Ironically, South Koreans tend not to be so doctrinaire in their religious views, many are eclectic, and don't see any contradiction in enjoying more than one tradition. Religion has an important social and therapeutic function, more so than metaphysical doctrinal emphasis. That's an impression I received over the years, although I know there are fanatic true believers everywhere. It's almost a secular or social perspective on religion that serves ritual needs as well. I understand that at a recent public memorial service for the Itaewon crush incident in which 159 people were killed, Heavenly flower was performed.

This second flood experience is similar to last time, a disruptive chaotic situation, complicated by people who try to take advantage while we are down. We are trying not to get too upset about it. What else can we do? I know you know something about this, having had some serious adverse event at your home in the not so distant past. Thanks for your encouragement.

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語必忠信 行必正直

janis b's picture

@soryang

for all your heartfelt contribution, musically and sympathetically.

So far, the recent (as of 3 months ago) remedy of the adverse event (almost 2 years ago) is still stable. I feel confident that it will remain so, and hope that my confidence is rewarded into the future.

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