CD09-03: Hoengseong, Funeral Song for Hardening Grave
(Hoengseong, Gangwon Province/ Yang, Jeong-hwan(59yrs/ 1994)
◆ Sung while hardening grave with soil that has been mixed with lime powder after lowering the coffin into the grave. The leading singer stands outside and six workers go in, to hardened the grave by stomping on the soil while singing the refrain. Usually they harden three to five layers.
(Content of Song)
“(This part is said out loud)
'This song we announced to the mountain god'
'This song we announced to the guests'
'This song we announced to the dead'
(Slow Song)
Good for those far-away to hear
Harden the grave carefully
(Fast Song)
Lean it to the upper end once
Lean it to the lower end once
Keep you feet to the duple time rhythm
Harden the grave carefully
(A song with a moral teaching continues for a while)
Facing each other in pairs, harden the grave by stomping trice
(A song saying that all men grow old and die continues for a while)”