Sub Rosa presents a release by composer/violinist Baudouin de Jaer. Gayageum Sanjo: compositions for 12-string gayagrum, Prelude, 5 sanjo and 10 studies. According to legend and to recent archeological digs, the gayageum is a millennial zither-like instrument featured in all Korean traditional repertoires. “Sanjo” is usually translated as “scattered melodies.” This style of music was informed by southwestern shamanic music (Sinawi) and the great epic songs (Pansori) from the same region. Melodies were improvised at first, then codified in the mid-19th century. Since then, they have evolved through lines of transmission (Ryu) from masters to pupils. “Each and every 34 pieces carries its own unique musical color sparking brightly with its distinctive luster just like a precious jewel. I think his Gayageum CD is something like a set of 34 pieces of jewels threaded onto a string. His Gayageum music opens up an unprecedented world of Gayageum music to us and each piece is as much attractive and musically tasty as other pieces. I could not help but want more music listening to the 34th track, the last piece of this CD.” –Mr. Hwang Byungki, Gayageum Composer and Performer Artistic director of the The National Orchestra of Korea.