Singing with 12 Strings September 24, 2008

Singing with 12 Strings
Performance with Commentary

by

Oh Jung-Hee
Artist-in-Residence
Donghwa Cultural Foundation

Wednesday, September 24 at 6:30 PM
6:00-6:30 PM • Registration and Reception
6:30-8:00 PM • Performance with Commentary

The Korea Society
950 Third Avenue @ 57th Street, 8th Floor
(Building entrance on SW corner of Third Avenue and 57th Street)

Join us for an exciting evening as the celebrated artist Oh Jung-Hee demonstrates the contemporary vitality of ancient traditions of Korean music, especially the tradition of dramatic narrative singing. Oh will perform excerpts from the p'ansori repertoire—Song of Ch'unhyang and Song of Hungbu, two of the five extant narratives (madang) of this distinctly Korean art form. Combining narration and drama for a solo vocalist, p'ansori is a unique musical genre that was proclaimed a Masterpiece of the Oral and Intangible Heritage of Humanity by UNESCO in 2003.

Oh will also play the 12-string Korean zither (kayagŭm), one of the best known traditional Korean musical instruments that shares some traits with the Chinese zheng, Japanese koto, Mongolian yatga, and Vietnamese dan tranh. Her performance will demonstrate the use of this instrument both as accompaniment for vocal pieces (kayagŭm pyŏngch'ang) and in solo instrumental pieces (kayagŭm sanjo). Throughout the program, Oh will offer brief explanatory comments on the works being performed to highlight their distinctive features as well as the contributions they have made to the development of Korea's musical and narrative traditions.

For more information or to register for the program, contact Patrick Clair at (212) 759-7525, ext. 328, or patrick.ny@koreasociety.org.

Official Website: http://www.koreasociety.org/arts/performing_arts/singing_with_12_strings.html