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Arirang

(c15th Century Korean)

Well-known and still popular Korean folk song that has been sung for over 600 years with the original being known as Jeongseon Arirang, which is the area of Korea it came from.  Having appeared in many versions throughout the centuries, the best known and most standard is “Bonjo Arirang”, normally just shortened to “Arirang”, which hails from Seoul from a much more recent time.  Other early versions of the song include “Jindo Arirang” and “Miryang Arirang”, both named after the province they hail from and “Paldo Arirang” which is used for many of the regional variations of it.

The word “Arirang” has no direct meaning in modern language as it is from ancient Korean but when split up the word “Ari” is beautiful and “Rang” is dear.  In the three verse song it describes a mountain pass named “Arirang” and although there are supposedly several passes with that name in Korea the one that is best known had its name changed from Jeongneung Pass to Arirang Pass in 1926 when the film of that name was released.

It is the official march of the 7th Infantry Division of the United States Army and John Barnes Chance, who is an American composer, based his Variations on a Korean Folk Song on it.

Chanticleer recordings
Arirang (c15th Century Korean)
Teldec 16676 (CD: Wondrous Love: A World Folk Song Collection)
Arranger – Chen Yi
Bass – Eric Alatorre
Bass – Frank Albinder
Baritone – Tim Krol
Baritone – Chad Runyon
Tenor – Kevin Baum
Tenor – David Munderloh
Alto – Jay White
Countertenor – Christopher Fritzsche
Countertenor – Corey McKnight

Sources:

  1. http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Arirang
  2. http://www.imdb.com/title/tt0149706/
  3. http://members.aol.com/panmunjom/arirang.htm
  4. http://www.allmusic.com/cg/amg.dll?p=amg&sql=10:gzfpxqqjldhe~T2