Arirang was selected as the theme song for the Korea Club because it is the most famous Korean folksong. It is also particularly appropriate for a Dahn Yoga club because it means "Finding Your True Self"! There are many versions of Arirang. The club is using the version from Kee Nam's hometown, Miryang, which is in the southeast of Korea. Roberta Holder Mosley is a professionally-trained singer and worked with Kee Nam to learn the tune. For the opening meeting on May 5, 2006, Master Jo, Kee Nam, Roberta, and the DSRG helped Korea Club members learn the tune and lyrics!
Click photos to see Korea Club learning Arirang from Kee Nam and singing it with the Diamond Sutra Recitation Group.
Arirang History
On November 6, 2007 The Korea Society hosted a lecture titled "The Case of Arirang: How the Anthem of Korean Resistance Became a Japanese Pop Hit" by E. Taylor Atkins, an associate professor of history at Northern Illinois University.
Click here to listen to the discussion: http://www.koreasociety.org/external/podcast.html?_kk=korea&_kt=a9baecbd-26d8-4a9a-88ce-dfefb126a221&gclid=COSb1OL2vJMCFQm0HgodhwR4CA
Note: Move the counter to about 23 minutes to hear the most famous version of Arirang (very soulful!)
Living History
The article and video below show how important Arirang continues to be today in Korea.
February 2008 article at: http://www.iht.com/articles/2008/02/28/asia/concert.php
Arirang Performance 2007 during South-North Summit
http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=FeRVxjLuweQ
Instrumental Versions
http://video.aol.com/video-detail/arirang-korean-folk-song/3850620425
http://video.aol.com/video-detail/arirang-korean-traditional-folk-song-rendition/1261538592
Arirang Performed on Traditional Korean Instrument Kayagum
http://video.aol.com/video-detail/arirang-solo/3466051558
See the Korean Culture page for information on traditional Korean music.
Group Video Performances of Arirang
See a professional performance of Arirang at: http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=D0PKJdCRIm4
See another Arirang video at: http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=BEJXRBUIaAk&mode=related&search=
Click here to see the sheet music: http://www.sheetmusicplus.com/store/smp_inside.html?item=5159287&cart=338762496825510450&page=01
Joy of Finding True Self (Note: The number 10 = whole, perfection, completion.) I am happy on the way to our self Dahn Healer School
| Arirang Urirang, arirang, arariya
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A more secular translation
This page was last updated on: 06/08/2008.