The haegeum is an ancient Korean instrument known for its pathos and vocality. Dating from the Koryeo Dynasty (918-1392), the instrument is a small, two-stringed fiddle with a slender, rod-like neck and round sound box. Traditionally built using 8 materials (metal, rock, thread, bamboo, gourd, soil, leather, and wood), haegeum is gifted with a colorful tonal palette and broad expressive range. In the context of a traditional Korean orchestra, haegeum is considered a wind instrument because of its ability to sustain haunting melodies. The bow is permanently looped between the strings, a unique design that likely stems from a time when it traveled with people on horseback; the haegeum, after all, was of no use if you lost the bow in transit. To perform, a musician typically sits in a half-lotus position with the right leg wrapped over the left knee and the sound box resting on top. The face of the instrument is turned inward and perpendicular to the player’s body, making it possible to transition the bow smoothly between the thicker inner string and thinner outer string (tuned a perfect fifth apart).