What is music to you? Well, it can be different things to different people. Yet, there is one thing that people might have to agree with, music is an inspiration. That is also what Bard (바드), a Korean Irish Folk Band from Korea, agree with. Irish music has become their inspiration for the path they chose. Playing Irish music in Korea might not have been something that many people will choose but Bard tries to prove that inspiration is what makes them grow. From the name that they chose for the group, they really try to preserve the influence of Irish music in every aspect of their music. Derive from a word in the Gaelic culture which means ancient Celtic poet, especially a lyric poet, Bard tries to share their music trough the verses of the music that they played.
Source: Esthero
Bard was once a project group under 2nd Moon (두번째달) , a Korean crossover instrumental band, which is famous for their music in Korean Drama, such as Ireland and Goong (궁) with another sister group, Alice in Neverland. The vocalist of 2nd Moon, Linda Cullen, who came from Ireland, travelled with the Korean group members to Ireland four years ago. Some of them who got very fascinated after the visit decided to form Bard a year after the visit. At that time, Bard consists of five members: Park Hyeri, Kim Jung Hwan, Kim Hyun Bo, Kwon Byung Ho, and Baek Seon Yeol. Together, they also got a chance to documented their journey to Ireland in a documentary Two-eyed Ireland (두개의 눈을 가진 아일랜드). Besides a documentary, they also got a chance to release a limited edition of a project album, in which they played traditional Irish tunes.
They fell in love and got inspired by the live of the Irish during their journey, especially their music. The only female member in the group, Park Heyli (박혜리) (Accordion, Irish whistle, vocal) mentioned that she got really touched when she heard the traditional Irish musical instruments being played. They represent the beauty and humbleness of the Irish people by which she got inspired with. Despite their small shape, she said that they produced powerful sound that impressed her a lot.
After the trip, Bard did a lot of buskings to play their music. It is no wonder that despite the background of some members who were musically educated, they had been also trained through all of those performances and grew their musicality. Three members then decided to go on their separate ways, leaving Heyli and Kim Jung Hwan (김정환) (Guitar, Vocal) to keep Bard’s music alive until two new members Yoon Jong Su (윤종수) (Fiddle) and Lee Soo Hyuk (이수혁) (Percussion) joined them respectively.
Bard defines their music as living music, a music for people which has a lot of elements of nature in it. Being inspired by Irish music, Bard never lose its connection to the roots by having a yearly travel to Ireland every summer. It is a journey for them to feel, to learn, and to play, to get connected back to what they have been the part of their music. Therefore, they wanted to share their experience through the music that they play to the people, as mentioned by Jung Hwan.
Being a classically-trained violist, Jong Su felt that Bard has been a special experience for him which he enjoyed very much. Been playing in the indie music scene, he mentioned that it is true that they might not make that much of money, but being able to share the passion of making music with fellow musicians made him feel happy. That is why, he continued, that he wanted to keep playing the music with Bard.
The official debut album, which was released in May 2010, shows that Bard wanted to take music to the higher level. Taking Bard as the title for the album, they wanted to the album to represent them as a group and the music that they want to share. In this new album, Bard got a chance to explore their musical ability, not only in performing their music roots but also composing their own music based on their interpretation. They made their own arrangement and create a beautiful cross-over between Irish-inspired tunes and Korean style.
Being a member of Bard is also another great experience for Soo Hyuk. Once dreamt of being a great rock musician, he felt that playing with Bard has made him grow. He said that he is actually living his dream right now. The dream might have changed as time goes by, when he mentioned that he would like to become a great musician instead, yet he surely felt that he has been enjoying playing with Bard so far.
Bard: The Legacy and Exploration
In their 1st album, Bard has chosen to keep their musical root alive, the Irish music that has inspired them and the one that they fell in love with. This album shows a beautiful interpretation of how music is truly borderless and inspires people in many ways. Bard tries to explore the musical ability not only by playing the traditional Irish tunes with traditional Irish instruments, but also creating their own interpretation of their music. Combining traditional tunes like jig (tune in 4/4 time meter), reel (a moderate to fast tune in 6/8 meter), slip jig (a moderate tune in 9/8 meter), and air (slower tunes), experience the exploration of the Irish music through the eyes of Bard.
Tracklist
01. 아침이 오면
02. Bird Song
03. 듣고 있을까
04. 길 위에 자란 숲
05. London Lasses
06. Donny Brook Fair
07. 맛있는 아일랜드
08. 목소리
09. She Moved Through The Fair
10. Ships Are Sailing
11. Toss The Feather
12. 꿈꾸는 섬 EIRE
‘아침이 오면’ (Hope for the Morning) becomes the first track to open the album. It is the song that marks the journey to explore their music. Started with a very soothing melody of the guitar and Irish whistle, it is a proof of their exploration and interpretation. Do not expect a full soothing melody because Bard will definitely make you move your feet right before the end of the song.
The next track, ‘Bird Song’, is another track to sooth the ears of the listeners. The title itself might have well-presented the song. It brings you up soar when the tempo change and tickle you to move your feet along with the song when the percussion starts to hit and the whistle goes faster. The whistle will guide you as if it was a bird soaring above the sky. A surprise comes when you hear another mix in the music when a Latin tune is brought in by the guitar and the violin to make you get off your seat and shake your leg.
When the music blends well together with the vocal, you will expect that it is a very beautiful experience of enjoying the music as a whole. Here, ‘듣고 있을까’ (Are You Listening?) is a track that will make you think so. Jung Hwan proves that he has a very soothing vocal like a wind breeze reach your ears and tickle your heart with his guitar playing. With its simple lyrics, this track will answer its own title, when it does not only reach your ear when you hear it, but it also lets you imagine listening the song as a wind that gently reaches your heart as well.
‘길위에 자란 숲’ (Forest Up from the Street) is a song made by Hyeri, inspired by her journey when she did busking performances during her journey with Bard. It tries to embody the whole experience that she had when she played on the streets and what she felt when people hear them played. With another soothing vocal, this track will bring you back to the memory and let you enjoy the moment once again.
Bard does not want people forget their music legacy. Therefore, playing the traditional tunes will let people feel a different experience when they are listening to this album. Being served by their exploration through their music in the previous tracks, in ‘London Lasses’ and ‘Donnybrook Fair’, they try to let their interpretation goes beyond what people usually hear from these traditional tunes. Here, each member’s ability to play their musical instruments is also well-served. You may hear a very well blend of the instruments sounds, like the accordion, whistle, banjo, guitar, violin, cajon (an afro-peruvian percussion), bones, and bodhran. These songs give another alternative taste of how Irish music can be played.
Another song which is inspired by the journey to Ireland, specifically inspired by the fondness of the member to the Irish beer, ‘맛있는 아일랜드’ (The Taste of Ireland) is a song that will make you dance along with its very cheerful tone and try doing the Irish dance while enjoying the song.
The song ‘목소리’ (Voice) will let you feel a different side of the journey. It has a deep and tense sound which might sound like a song that played when you got to listen for an ancient hero story. It is a song that will also let you to experience a different side of Jung Hwan’s vocal.
‘She moved through the Fair’ is a sweet tune reinterpreted from a classic Irish folk song. The Irish whistle and guitar were dominant in this song, especially during the half part of the song when they only played their instruments. If you usually hear this sang by a female vocalist, then here Jung Hwan’s voice slip through a different way of telling this love story.
Expect another cheer when you have a listen to ‘Ships are Sailing’ and ‘Toss The Feather’, another Irish folk songs rearranged by Bard. These songs will make move your feet once again and dance a long with the songs. They somehow always play with the tempo, where they play slower at the beginning of the songs for the warming up and let the tempo goes faster later until the end of the songs.
This album is finally closed by another soothing melody of ’꿈꾸는 섬 EIRE’ (--). It ends the journey that had been through. The melody feels like it wants to tell you how to treasure the memories that you had listened after listening throughout the album, as the tile itself tries to portray.
To summarize, this album is a very nice choice for you who want to experience a journey. Clearly, it is an album that will show you how they have been truly inspired by the Irish music. Since they tried to mix their album with not only playing instrumental music for Irish folk songs, but also playing their compositions, Bard really wants the listeners to be more attached with what they want to share in their album, their inspiration. I might not be a fan of the songs order, except for the opening and closing track, but they tried to have a balance mix of the Irish folk songs and their own music. So, people will not hear clear-cut styles of songs in the album.
Bard music is a living music. Thus, we might see their growth while keeping their legacy at the same time. One journey might have ended but it is also another start for a new journey and a whole lot more challenges await.
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