The performance Soritgonggam in London, brought jointly by the Korea Cultural Heritage Administration, Korean Cultural Centre UK, and Korea Cultural Heritage Foundation, will be held here in London to commemorate the 140th anniversary of the diplomatic relations between the UK and the Republic of Korea.
Held on a special stage prepared in the Cultural Heritage Media Art Exhibition space, this performance will allow you to experience the beautiful and unique sounds and dances of Korea. The Visit Korean Heritage Campaign is a campaign that introduces the beautiful cultural heritage of Korea to the world and creates a wide variety of tourism content using Korea’s diverse cultural heritage.
Programme
Traditional Korean vocal music ‘Gasa’
Chunmyeongok performed by Nari Kim (vocal) and Byung-og Oh (daegeum; saenghwang)
A branch of traditional Korean vocal music, Gasa refers to a long piece of song consisting of long lyrics in gasa style (a writing style close to prose). A total of 12 known Gasa pieces have been passed down to date, and are called “12 Gasas.” One of the 12 Gasas is “Chunmyeongok,” which describes the feelings of a man suffering from the loss of his lover.
An opera singer’s aria
‘Ah, ch’infelice sempre’ from Vivaldi’s secular Cantata Cessate, Omai Cessate, performed by Hyunwoo Jung (vocal) and Heo Kyeon (guitar)
One of the Italian secular cantatas popular between the 17th and 18th centuries, Antonio Vivaldi’s
Original sound of Korea, ‘Pansori’
Jaryong Shoots his Bow and Arrow, from ‘Jeokbyeokga (赤壁歌)’ performed by Dayeon Lee (vocal) and Wonyoung Shin (gosu)
Pansori is a musical performance in which a singer ties together a long story using a combination of singing or chang (sori), lyrics (aniri), and gestures (neoreumsae). Recognized for its originality and excellence as a unique part of Korean culture, pansori was registered on the UNESCO Representative List of the Intangible Cultural Heritage of Humanity in 2008. As one of the five backgrounds of ‘pansori’ that have been passed down to this day,
Korean traditional dance, ‘Taepyeongmu’
Performed by Mijoo Han
A traditional Korean dance that expresses a wish for the country’s peace and prosperity, Taepyeongmu presents the grandeur and magnificence of the royal court and is characterized by elegant, delicate, and artistic footwork.
Finale: ‘Arirang’
Performed by Nari Kim (Gasa), Hyunwoo Jung (opera), and Dayeon Lee (pansori) / Accompanists: Byung-og Oh (daegeum), Heo Kyeon (guitar), and Wonyoung Shin (gosu)
A major folk song that represents Korea, ‘Arirang’ was registered on the ‘UNESCO Representative List of the Intangible Cultural Heritage of Humanity’ in 2012. Through the ‘Arirang’ finale, audiences can simultaneously enjoy the vocalizations of a Korean traditional song Gasa, a medieval cantata, and Korea’s unique pansori.