Last weekend’s free seminar at SOAS ranged from Silla dynasty lion dances to last month’s tour of Taiwan by BEAST, and from ancient Confucian ceremonial music to Samulnori and hip-hop via Trot. Juhae Gu introduced us to the dying musical form of Akkeuk (악극) – a form of stage musical using Trot music. It is … [Read More]
Category: Korean traditional music (page 9)
SOAS Workshop: The Diversity and Distinctiveness of Korean Music and Dance
Two dates for your diary. The Friday and Saturday after Easter there’s a one and a half day symposium at SOAS on the varied aspects of Korean music. Yes, there’ll be a session on K-pop too, plus a concert of traditional music on the Friday evening. There’s an ambitious attempt to have one of the … [Read More]
LKL Critics’ Choice 2011: Philip
2011 all told was not a bad year for K-pop, and K-indie too is reaching listeners through more outlets. My own record-buying was somewhat slower than in previous years, but nevertheless I picked up enough to have a lot of rejects in my pile. And here are five of the disks that will stay with … [Read More]
KAYA to perform at the KCC
Over the last 10 years Jung Ji-eun (gayageum) and Jeon Sung-min (guitar) have become familiar figures at Korean cultural events in the London area and elsewhere. But you might not have noticed that they have been steadily expanding their repertoire, in particular with their own compositions. One of these compositions was performed at the evening … [Read More]
Concert notes: Sooeun Kwak with La-on G at the KCC
For the third event in the KCC’s concert series this year we were presented with Sooeun Kwak’s gayageum ensemble, “La-on G”. The ensemble’s name is a combination of the Korean word for “pleasant”, and “G” standing for any and all of Gayageum, Green, Global and Generation. The music performed by the ensemble is all composed … [Read More]
Festival visit: Jasmine Gwangju
Gwangju seems an event from the distant past, but in fact was only 31 years ago. This year, the archives which document the history of that brief uprising were listed by UNESCO in their Memory of the World register. With perfect timing, bearing in mind the democratic uprisings in the Arab world this year, the … [Read More]
Gayageum, Be the Legend at the KCC
Notice of a Gayageum concert tomorrow evening at the Cultural Centre. Judging by the names of the items on the programme and the accompanying photograph, this looks to be a concert that will include modern compositions for the modern version of the gayageum. Sooeun Kwak and La-on G Gayageum Ensemble: Gayageum, Be the Legend at … [Read More]
Korean performers at the 2011 Edinburgh Fringe
Korean performers are continuing their tradition of bringing entertaining shows to the Edinburgh Fringe. Alongside the significant Korean productions as part of the main festival this year, you will find physical theatre, puppetry, traditional and indie music, and much more: Gaksi, Mago http://www.edfringe.com/whats-on/theatre/gaksi-mago Category: Theatre Genres: drama Group: Kkachidong Venue: theSpaces @ Surgeons Hall Event … [Read More]
Top Korean artists at the 2011 Edinburgh International Festival
Every year we get a range of Korean performers at the Edinburgh Fringe. But the focus of the festival in 2011 is the vibrant and diverse cultures of Asia. Consequently this year we’ve got three top-notch groups who have been invited as part of the main festival itself. So for the first time this year … [Read More]
China claims Arirang as its own
Why 'Arirang' isn't listed among Korea's cultural assets – and why it soon will be thanks to the Chinese. Interesting article in the Chosun Ilbo http://bit.ly/jFz2MM with a counterblast by Roboseyo (Nobody owns Arirang) # [Read More]
Book launch and talk on Ch’angguk by Dr Andrew Killick
Here’s something which I knew nothing about till a couple of days ago. But I’ll certainly be getting myself a copy. Book launch and talk on Ch’angguk by Dr Andrew Killick (Sheffield University) The Asian Performing Arts Forum (http://asianperformingartsforum.wordpress.com) is proud to sponsor a talk on Ch’angguk and book launch by Dr Andrew Killick at … [Read More]
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]
Scattering Rhythms: Korean Traditional Music and Jazz at the KCC
Keith Howard has returned to SOAS from Sydney and brings with him a fusion of jazz with sanjo. Sounds interesting: Scattering Rhythms: Korean Traditional Music and Jazz at the Korean Cultural Centre UK Monday 11 April 2011 at 19:00 ‘Scattering Rhythms: Korean traditional music and Jazz’ is the creative collaboration of Korean traditional music by … [Read More]
Menari and Musan win awards
“Menari, the Sound of Korea”, a short documentary on eastern folk singer Park Soo-kwan wins Delphic Art Movie Award 2011 The Journals of Musan, a film about difficulties of Northern defectors, wins jury prize at Deauville Asian Film Fest http://bit.ly/gnzRaJ [Read More]
Concert notes: Tori Ensemble at the KCC
It was encouraging to see the KCC’s first concert of the year very well attended. It was also very nice to have plenty of comfy seats laid out in the multi-purposes hall. The KCC hopes to bring you a wide range of music on a more regular basis than the past, and the Tori ensemble … [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]