PANSORI

We also enjoyed a pansori rendered by a local performer.

PANSORI

A popular form in Korea during the 19th century, pansori featured satires and love stories. A full story, madang (Korean: 마당), is so long that it usually takes hours to complete. One example is the "Song of Chunhyang" which takes over eight hours to perform, without a break. A madang consists of certain alterations of aniris (Korean: 아니리, descriptive speech) and changs (Korean: 창, song).

Only five of the original twelve pansori madangs survive today. Those fiveare Heungbuga, Simcheongga, Chunhyangga, Jeokbyeokga and Sugungga.

In a pansori performance, the kwangdae sings, standing with a folding fan held in one hand. The fan is waved to emphasize the singer's motions and unfolded to announce changes of scene. The gosu gives rhythm not only by beats but also by chuimsae (Korean: 추임새), verbal sounds. A chuimsae can be a simple meaningless vowel, but short words of encouragement are also given. The audience is also supposed to give chuimsae during the performance, similar to kakegoeand the shouts of "Olé" during flamenco performances. Pansori has been compared in impact to the American Blues. There are various singing styles, such as the more "feminine" sopyonje of south-western Korea (inspiration of the film Sopyonje Korean: 서편제) and the more "masculine" tongp'yonje Korean: 동편제. UNESCO proclaimed the pansori tradition a Masterpiece of the Oral and Intangible Heritage of Humanity on November 7, 2003.

A band also played modern day songs played using Korean traditional instruments like gayageum, geomungo, daejang and geum. Listening to traditional music gives a different charm and beat to the rhythm of one’s life. Try listening to Korean traditional pieces now.