The concert highlighted fusion of traditional and contemporary Korean music where the string instrument, haegum played by Kang Eun Il took centre stage. Seong Ung Park, the Ambassador of the Republic of Korea and chief guest Begum Selima Rahman, State Minister for Cultural Affairs spoke at the event.

Haegum resembles a fiddle or a sarangi. It has a rod-like body supporting two silk strings. It is held vertically on the knee of the performer and played with a bow. Other traditional instruments gayageum (a zither-like instrument with 12 or more strings), daegeum (a large bamboo transverse flute), sogeum (a small flute), piri (a double reed instrument), taepyungso (a high-pitched wind instrument), percussion and contemporary instruments like keyboard, drums, acoustic and bass guitars -- conjured the apt vibes.

Kang Eun Il, one of the most notable Korean haegum artistes, has expanded the instrument's potential beyond the borders of traditional music through experimenting with other genres such as jazz and free music. She has performed with renowned artistes like Luciano Pavarotti and Bobby McFerrin.

The performance began with what seemed to be a popular hum-worthy Korean number featuring a youngster doing the vocals. The magic of haegum was yet to unravel but the rendition was uplifting nevertheless.

The next piece, Sky Bull, set the mood of the evening. The slow breath and rough tone of haegum formed a melancholy melody combined with the characteristically thick and refreshing tone of taepyungso. Fade Out, the next number, was the quintessential serene and relaxing far eastern tune. One could close his/her eyes and imagine the nirvana of a soothing breeze on a secluded tropical island. The subtle yellow and midnight blue smoky lights on the stage created a surreal ambiance.

The slumber-inducing enchantment was soon over and a fast paced happy-go-lucky number Circus took over the senses. The tune expressed a swing back and forth of Pierre's monocycle with whimsical sounds of wind, the excitement of tightrope walking with beats of percussion and the everyday joys and sorrows of circus-life with a dazzling display of Kang's haegum skills.

A surprise for the Bangladeshi audience was a rendition of the familiar Tagore song Ei Monihaar Amaye Nahi Shajey. According to Kang, before coming to Bangladesh, she came across the tune and was fascinated. The artiste conveyed through her translator that she would love to play with Bangladeshi musicians in future.

The highlight of the evening was a rendition of the George Gershwin classic Summer Time. The familiar opera number was a brilliant example of fusion, specially at the peak when the jazz-effect broke out. The audience went wild. The BSA Hall at that moment could rival the vivacity of any reputed New Orleans jazz club.

As the event was closing to its end, all one could hear was "En core!" and Kang did comply. Memories of the oft-gleeful, oft-melancholy tunes of haegum will linger on for days to come. Kudos to the Bangladesh Ministry of Cultural Affairs and the Embassy of the Republic of Korea for organising the event.