The first of the music performances as part of the All Eyes on Korea festival is a fusion of up-to-date music on traditional instruments combined with traditional mask dance:
Be-Being presents Yimyeongongjak
Date: 23 July 2012, 7:30pm
Venue: Queen Elizabeth Hall, London SE1 8XX
Mask cultures are some of the oldest forms of entertainment in the world and inspired by Korea’s long history of these we have Be-Being’s Korean Masque Music Project Yimyeongongjak.
This concert of traditional Korean music consists of both original compositions and reinterpretations of various traditional Korean mask plays. The title of the concert, Yimyeongongjak, refers to an activity or action behind the scenes – wire-pulling in the background revealing the symbolic power of the mask and the masquerade.
Yimyeongongjak consists of Be-Being’s original music and bodily performance, both of which are based on the reinterpretation of various mask plays that have been appointed as Important Intangible Cultural Properties of Korea. It is not only a traditional art form including theatre, dance, costume, music and mask, but also a ceremony of favour-seeking, praying, healing and exorcism, in which the traditional way of thinking and living are inscribed.
Through selectively developing Korean traditional music and combining them with other musical elements from outside, Be-Being avoids the conventional musical practices and creates a new form of music, which is then synthesized with dance, video and theatre into an interdisciplinary art form.
Programme:
- Aniri of the Bongsan Talchum
- Saja Chum of the Bongsan Talchum
- Pijori Chum of the Namsadang
- Pijori 2
- Jultagi of the Jain Palgwangdae
- Sooyoungyaryu
- Beodeureun
- Geosa Chum of the Bukcheong Saja-nori
- Surisuri Mahasuri of the Goseong Ohgwangdae
Performers and production:
- Jang Young-gyu: music director, composer
- Park Soon-a: gayageum
- Na Won-il: piri
- Choi Joon-il: janggu
- Lee Seung-hee: singer, pansori
- Chun Ji-yoon: haegeum
- Kim Dong-su: yeonhui (traditional Korean performing arts)
- Yun Hyun-ho: yeonhui (traditional Korean performing arts)
- Oh Young-hoon: sound engineering
- Kim Jimyung: stage manager
This performance is brought to you by the Korean Cultural Centre UK (KCCUK) and the Korean Culture and Information Service (KOCIS) with the kind support of the Korean Ministry of Culture, Sports and Tourism.
(automatically generated) Read LKL’s review of this event here.