London Korean Links

Covering things Korean in London and beyond since 2006

Event news: Kayagum and dance at SOAS

Choi Jin

As part of the SOAS autumn concert series there’s a kayagum recital, with traditional and contemporary dance, on 19 November at 7pm.

Choi Jin (최진) : Evocative Korean Kayagum and Dance

Choi Jin is one of the most brilliant kayagum players in the Korean music world. As a well-known performer, she has given many concerts around the world and has published 3 CDs. At SOAS, she will combine brilliant technical artistry on the zither with traditional and contemporary dance. The sound of Choi Jin and her kayagum ensemble will transport you to one of Asia’s most distant lands, evoking ancient and contemporary worlds.

Free admission, no booking required. It’s first come, first served.

Venue: Brunei Gallery Lecture Theatre, SOAS, University of London, Thornhaugh Street, Russell Square, London WC1H 0XG

Here’s the detailed programme:

Chimhyangmu
‘Chimhyangmu’ is composed by Hwang Byung Ki, a master of Gayageum, and it is a representative solo music of Gayageum. ‘Chimhyang’, a name of Indian fragrance, is music that expresses dance in full fragrance. It harmonizes traditional rhythm of Korea with that of the countries bordering on Western China.
Composed by Hwang Byung Ki
Gayageum: Choi Jin
Janggu: Kim Dong Hyun

Five-string Zither with Two Pitches
In 1976, a huge controversial piece, Five-string Zither with Two Pitches, was composed by Prof. Lee. As is clear from the title, two notes, d and e, play a principal role in the piece. Almost 70 % of the notes played are d or e plus octave equivalents, and all other notes are played on strings pitched to those two tones. In this piece, the performer tries to produce all possible sounds by two notes and five strings (all d or e). Therefore, not only a lot of Korean traditional performance techniques, such as ch’useong and toeseong, but also new techniques created by the composer are employed in this piece.
Composer: Lee Sung Chon
Gayageum: Choi Jin
Janggu: Kim Dong Hyun

‘Sanhaeng’ for Yanggeum and Daegeum (Arrangement) First performance
‘Sanhaeng’ expresses Korean sentiments through the harmony of the orient and western musical instruments performed with guitar and Gayageum. During the performance you could imagine a Buddhist monk who walks toward his temple as lightly as a butterfly. This performance will be done with the instruments like Yanggeum, 25 strings Gayageum, and Daegeum after being arranged.
Composer: Kim Young Dong
Yanggeum: Choi Jin
Daegeum: Koh Seung Whan

Ssugdaemori (Arrangement) First performance
Pansori is designated as one of the world intangible heritage by UNESCO. Ssugdaemeori is a part of Pansori ‘Chunhyangga’ which is also a part of Okjungga (a song in prison). It is a very important part of ‘Chunhyangga’ that expresses Chunhyang who suffers tough situations in prison, and her heartbreaking longing for her lover, Lee Doryung. Ssugdaemori figures scattered hair of Chunhyang when she was in prison. Ssugdaemori sung as Pansori is newly arranged by Gayageum Byungchang, dance and electronic sounds for the first performance.
Arranged by Shin Jin Sub
Gayageum Byungchang: Choi Jin
Dance: Lee Ju Mi

‘Whawoon’: Choi Ok Sam Style Gayageum Sanjo First performance
Sanjo, called the flower of the instrumental music in Korean tradition, is divided into several kinds. Choi Ok Sam Style Gayageum Sanjo is well-known as the most artistic Sanjo. Sanjo always comes up with Janggu or Buk and this performance is not an exception. The solo music Sanjo will give you a chance to experience how vivid Korean Sanjo rhythm is in the forms of solo and ensemble each.
Composed by Choi Ji Hye
12 Strings Gayageum: Choi Jin
25 Strings Gayageum: Kim Min Young / Kim Mi Young / Lee Da Som / Kim Sang Ah
Janggu: Kim Dong Hyun

Links:

(automatically generated) Read LKL’s review of this event here.

Leave a Reply

Your email address will not be published. Required fields are marked *

This site uses Akismet to reduce spam. Learn how your comment data is processed.