London Korean Links

Covering things Korean in London and beyond since 2006

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Selected publications

  • Booklist: Percussion (9 titles)
    • Concert notes: Scattered Rhythms

      I’m not quite sure what I was expecting from the Jazz / Gugak collaboration involving Australian jazz drummer Simon Barker on 11 April 2011, but I certainly wasn’t expecting a long drum solo. Companions was probably the virtuoso highlight of the evening, a drum solo in which Simon Barker managed to convey the sounds of … [Read More]

      New Year Beats

      Bella Frey bangs the drum for some exciting classes. Since the first time I went back to Korea and was treated to a performance of a Samulnori percussion group performance, I have wanted to try to play one or all of the four instruments, particularly the drums. I was blown away by the energy, fun … [Read More]

      Samulnori workshop: Wild Beats and Mesmerising Rhythms

      Jeung-hyun Choi, KAA member and managing director of the UK arm of Dulsori, will be holding an entertaining and very reasonably priced percussion workshop on 6 November: Come & Play Korean Drums & Percussion Wild Beats and Mesmerising Rhythms with Jeung-hyun Choi Saturday 6th November, 4:30-6:00pm St Mark’s Church, Myddleton Square, London EC1R 1XX. Feel … [Read More]

      Concert notes: Gong Myoung at the Chichester Festival Theatre — Korean Musicians Win English Hearts

      Jennifer Barclay, author of Meeting Mr Kim, reviews Gong Myoung at the Chichester Festival Theatre, 12 October 2009 He enters the stage wearing an oversized orange hat and sunglasses, carrying a toolbox and a walking stick. From the toolbox he takes out a saw and a drill, saws off the end of the walking stick, … [Read More]

      Gong Myoung tours the South-east

      Gong Myoung (공명) are an incredible Korean percussion quartet with a passion for music. While they hold great respect for traditional Korean music, they have never been bound by it. They aim to create Korean music for all to enjoy, regardless of their nationality. They interweave genres and cultures playing more than 30 musical instruments, … [Read More]

      Dulsori at the Tower Festival

      If last weekend’s Thames Festival has whetted your appetite for al fresco Korean culture, there’s more on offer this weekend on the north side of the river. The fantastic samulnori percussion group Dulsori are playing at the Tower Festival on 19 September as part of a programme of performances put together by Womad. Dulsori has … [Read More]

      Learn Samulnori with Dulsori

      Don’t miss a rare chance to learn and experience the fun you can have playing samulnori percussion. Over the past few years Korean percussion group Dulsori have had a regular slot in the SOAS music summer school teaching percussion for a week. This year they’ve gone independent, and will be giving weekly classes over an … [Read More]

      “Made in Korea” festival in Brussels

      The “Made in Korea” festival in Brussels is a big-budget four month perspective of Korea’s arts. Centred around the Centre for Fine Arts, this is a unique opportunity to see some of Korea’s ancient treasures and also some more contemporary visual and performing arts. Definitely worth a trip to Brussels. First, a summary of some … [Read More]

      Some New Year drumming

      First, a video posted to YouTube on New Year’s Eve: a Korea-Japan collaboration in Los Angeles, from Doppo Nagata. “New year celebration of dance and music 2008” from Los Angeles, California. “Japan-Korea cross-cultural future traditional music and dance”. Music composed and produced by Doppo Nagata (Soul of Japan and beyond). Choreography by Soo Hyang Lee … [Read More]

      Think Korea: Baudeogi

      An evening of traditional street performance as part of Think Korea: Musical: Baudeogi 11-12 September 2006 The UCL Bloomsbury Theatre | 15 Gordon Street | London WC1H 0AH Introduction It is one of the most superior musicals to be staged on a traditional Korean open stage on a large scale. It features a panorama of … [Read More]

      Come & support the SamulNori stars of tomorrow.

      Or at least come and have a laugh at your blogmeister making a fool of himself. This week’s evening classes at SOAS culminate in an open-air concert at SOAS main entrance (NOT in Russell Square as previously advertised) at 7pm today, Friday 21 July. Our tutors, the wonderful Dulsori, will be doing some solo numbers, … [Read More]

      Dulsori evening class # 2

      Yesterday evening we learnt the backhand. And, in retrospect, as I struggled last night to notate what we learned, we also did triplets. We were without the interpreter yesterday, so 95% of the class was conducted in Korean. Some of the Korean students took pity on us non-Koreans (we had a new joiner, another Brit, … [Read More]

      Dulsori evening class #1

      I ache. My brain aches from concentrating too much (maybe I should relax and go with the flow, but that only happens when at least three pints of London Pride have gone down my neck). The insides of my legs ache: in order to play the changgo you need to be at least a black … [Read More]