Tongyeong, Gyeongsangnam-do, Tuesday 27 March 2012. The Yun Isang Memorial Hall is a short walk from the ferry terminal which serves Tongyeong’s outlying islands. I had come there to attend a symposium attended by the two composers-in-residence and the Musical Director of the Tongyeong International Music Festival, which is now in its 10th year. It grew … [Read More]
Music (page 73)
2012 Travel Diary 9: Yun Isang — Victim of the Cold War
Tongyeong, Gyeongsangnam-do, Monday 26 March 2012. For most big Korean cultural events there’s a glossy brochure with a welcome message from various officials and dignitaries. And for the most important events you might expect a welcome message from the Minister of Culture. It is a measure of the sensitivity of the Tongyeong International Music Festival’s … [Read More]
K-pop Academy – The Curtain Falls…A New Era Begins?
26th of May marked the closing of the 1st K-Pop Academy, a 12-week course run by the Korean Cultural Centre for thirty K-pop fans who applied to learn more about the country and its culture. Witnessing the course unfold over the last 12 weeks, the enthusiasm of the students themselves, combined with the dedication of … [Read More]
2012 Travel Diary 8: Yun Isang, Sancheong and Tongyeong
Tongyeong, Gyeongsangnam-do, Monday 26 March 2012. The day has been devoted mainly to exploring some of the Joseon dynasty naval history in which Tongyeong played its part. But we’re also in Tongyeong to attend the Tongyeong International Music Festival, focusing on concerts which have music by Tongyeong’s most famous musical son, composer Yun Isang. In … [Read More]
HJ Lim: the latest exciting artist from EMI Classics
When a record company launches a new young star, there’s always a slight suspicion that content is taking second place to style and presentation. But with Korean pianist HJ Lim EMI Classics are unapologetic, and with every justification. HJ (Hyun-jung) Lim has come to fame not via the conventional international music competition circuit: EMI’s PR … [Read More]
Wonder Girls rapper in top 25 beauty list
Nice to see the Wonder Girls in the news. I wonder how JYP managed to get Yu-bin onto the list of 25 Sexiest Musicians Under 25, compiled by US website Complex Music. Yu-bin, who replaced the band’s previous main rapper Hyuna, comes in at number 20. Judge for yourself, but I think she should be … [Read More]
2012 Travel Diary 3: Bugaksan to Daehakro
Seoul, Saturday 24 March 2012. There’s time to kill before our evening appointment in Daehakro, so we go for a stroll in Samcheong-dong, along with most of the rest of Seoul. It’s 5pm on a pleasant Saturday afternoon, and young couples amble with an charming lack of purpose, getting in your way if you want to … [Read More]
The Colour of Korea: Korean Traditional Music Today – concerts in London and Cambridge
Three concerts of traditional and contemporary music for Korean traditional instruments are coming up: first at the KCC on 24 April, then at the Cambridge Faculty of Music Recital Room (5:30pm 25 April) and finally in Robinson College Chapel on 28 April at 5pm. Similar programmes, and the same performers. The full details of the … [Read More]
Nokha: Interactive performances in hanoks composed by Jee Soo Shin
Now this is the sort of collaboration I like: new compositions by a Korean composer who is a member of the Korean Artists Association UK, in a project commissioned by an Englishman, David Kilburn, who lives in one of Seoul’s last original hanoks, in Bukchon – one used by Kim Ki-duk in filming 3-Iron. Performances … [Read More]
Event news: Sunwook Kim at Mill Hill Music Club
Despite Sunwook Kim’s numerous performances in London, I’ve never managed to get to see him here. But I caught him at the Tongyeong International Music Festival a couple of weeks ago playing Beethoven, Brahms, Liszt and Yun Isang. Based on his performance, I’ve been missing out. He’s a regular visitor to the Mill Hill Music … [Read More]
From Local Monsters to BEAST: 1500 years of Korean music and dance at SOAS
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]
Taegugki-themed K-pop night at the KCC
A reminder of the Taegugki-themed K-pop night at the KCC on Tuesday 17 April (http://bit.ly/HvfwcH), celebrating 100 days before the start of the Olympics, which the KCC will be celebrating in a very special way. [Read More]
New Indie Music collaboration album
The Joongang Ilbo features an interesting new K-indie compilation double album – a collaboration between three indie labels – featuring almost 20 years of K-indie. “Seoul Seoul Seoul” has got to be worth checking out at YesAsia [Read More]
Saharial reviews Kyu Won’s 2nd album: 스스로 떠나는 사람들
Kyu won – 2nd album – 스스로 떠나는 사람들 Open Music, 2011. Released back in June last year, I’m not sure why it took me so long to buy this album seeing how much I enjoyed the first. I wasn’t sure what to expect this time round: most artistes attempt to have a different feel … [Read More]
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]
DPRK unveils new fusion technology on Paris concert platform
At least three things are of interest in relation to the 14 March Paris performance of the Unhasu (은하수) Orchestra from North Korea. First: that it happened at all; second: how it was reported back home; and third, what it was that the orchestra was playing. The funding First, then. How did it get to … [Read More]