Korean Dragonfly Song

Before tablets, PCs, and smartphones were introduced in Korea, children played with games that are related to the nature around them, such as flowers, trees, pebbles, animals, and insects. There are numerous Korean traditional folk songs based on nature, and Jamjari kkongkkong (잠자리 꽁꽁) is one such example for kids.

Jamjari (잠자리) means “dragonfly” and kkongkkong (꽁꽁) is an expression that represents “to freeze/stop in place.” Children used to sing the song, Jamjari kkongkkong (잠자리 꽁꽁) while chasing dragonflies, in hopes that a dragonfly will freeze in place so they can catch it.

Korean folk songs are written primarily with three to five tones; do, re, mi, so, and la. Jamjari kkongkkong is written with four tones: mi, so, la, and do’, with solfege “la” (note A) as the tonal center. There are multiple variations of the song throughout different regions in Korea, although this version is the most common by far.

Different colors of dragonflies including red, green, black, and yellow can easily be found in Korea throughout late Summer and Fall. Teachers may introduce the different colors of dragonflies through the drum ostinato pattern.

Translation & Pronunciation:

잠자리 꽁꽁                jamjari kkongkkong                  Dragonfly freeze

꼼자리 꽁꽁                kkomjari* kkongkkong              Dragonfly freeze

이리와라 꽁꽁             iriwara kkongkkong                  Fly here kkongkkong

저리가라 꽁꽁             jeorigara kkongkkong               Fly away kkongkkong

*kkomjari is mixture of jamjari and kkongkkong; the first syllable of jamjari is changed to create a rhyme.

Click here to view videos of both pronunciation and song.

Procedures:

1. Teacher sings the song with motions.
2. Teach the motions (Students imitate motions and listen to the Korean lyrics multiple times).
   • Jamjari kkongkkong – flying motion and freeze (in place).
     
   • kkomjari kkongkkong – repeat above.
   • iriwara kkongkkong – two steps forward and freeze.
     
   • jeorigara kkongkkong – two steps back and freeze.
     
3. Teach the song, phrase by phrase.
4. Speak “kkong kkong dra-gon-fly” (patting hands on the laps) and transfer to alto xylophone (note A and E).
   
5. Introduce the different colors of dragonfly through the drum part. Have students speak “Red, green, black and yel-low” (clapping the rhythms) and transfer to drum.
   
6. Divide class into three groups; one group for alto xylophone, another group for drum, and the other group for singing and motions.
7. Perform the entire piece as an ensemble.
   • Alto xylophone starts with 8 beat intro and then drum comes in (8 beat ostinato).
   • Sing the song two times with motions.

Click here to download a pdf of this lesson.

Originally published by Teaching with Orff April 24, 2019

The post Lesson: Korean Dragonfly Song first appeared on Teaching With Orff.