London Korean Links

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Pansori workshop at SOAS with the Korea Pansori Preservation Association

The Korea Pansori Preservation Association are in town for their K-music concert on 6 October, and they’re taking advantage of their trip to run a workshop at SOAS the day before:

P’ansori workshop

Saturday 5 October 2019, 2pm – 5pm
Main Building, Room G52 | SOAS | 10 Thornhaugh St | Bloomsbury | London WC1H 0XG
Check for updates on the event’s Facebook page

Pansori workshop

Learn the singing and drumming accompaniment of this epic storytelling genre from Korea

P’ansori is an epic sung storytelling genre from Korea, which has been recognized for its artistic value as a UNESCO Masterpiece of the Oral and Intangible Heritage of Humanity. In this genre, a single singer tells a story spanning from two to eight hours, accompanied by a single drummer, who provides rhythmic accompaniment and shouts of encouragement to the singer. The five stories transmitted until today span the full range of human experience, as the singer uses just their voice to express not just all states of emotion, but also dramatic scenes and even the sounds of nature. Training for p’ansori singers is traditionally very arduous, as singers spend years, if not decades, honing and strengthening their voices to have the necessary range, power, and stamina to tell a full story.

In this workshop, participants will have the opportunity to get a taste of this challenging art form, with the rare opportunity to learn not only the singing, but the drumming accompaniment as well.

Korean language skill is not required; all source materials will be in English and translators will be on hand.

P’ansori teachers

Min Hye-Sung: Isuja (senior disciple) of National Important Intangible Culture Asset No.5 P’ansori Song of Hŭngbo
Kim Su-Ji: Isuja of National Important Intangible Culture Asset No.5 P’ansori Song of Ch’unhyang

Drumming teacher

Choi Kwang-Su: Isuja of National Important Intangible Culture Asset No.17 P’ansori Drumming

Workshop convenor

Anna Yates-Lu: Ethnomusicologist, University of Oxford Oriental Institute

Information on the workshop organiser

The Korea Pansori Preservation Association preserves the rich history of traditional Korean opera, studying the art and sharing its joy and charm throughout the modern world. The company consists of Living National Treasures, holders of Important Intangible Cultural Assets and their senior students.

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