YOON Eun-ja | Sultaegut

If the sound of the Gayageum is to be associated with the delicacy and brilliance of traditional Korean culture, the stately, percussive Geomungo can be said to personify the literati's most profound meditations and search for enlightenment. An ancient legend recorded in the Silla kogi (The Records of Silla) tells of how the Wang San-ak, the Prime Minister of Goguryo modified a Chinese Guqin into something suitable for Korean music. Delighted with his creation, Wang began to improvise hundreds of songs. While he was playing, a black crane flew into his chamber and began dancing, thereafter; the new instrument came to be known as the "Hyeongeum" ("black crane zither"). The current name, "Geomungo" is the representation of Koreanization of the original Chinese characters.
YOON Eun-Ja embodies the vibrant spirit of the Geomungo, and translates its solemn melodies into an exciting contemporary musical language. Her work embraces both traditional performance, Changjak Gugak ("creative" gugak or "newly composed" traditional music) as well as innovative artistic explorations, including multi-media and film. In addition to an active career as a solo performer, Eun-Ja is the Principle Geomungo of the SeongNam Municipal Troup of Korean Traditional Performing Arts, a founding member of Ensemble Geomungo and now actively teaches and mentors to young musicians. EunJa's 2009 album, "Spring Snow" earned her the KOCCA Critics Choice Award (KOCCA is the acronym for Korean Creative Contents Agency, the international consortium representing Korean cultural productions around the world) and she received enthusiastic reviews in the local press, citing both her exceptional musicianship and her creative program of traditional and contemporary repertoire.