Three Figures who won fame in the field of gugak! Gugak legends come back! Fall 2009, a new series of NCKTPA commentary performances

Seon-ga Gyu-il Ha

(1867 ~ 1937)

Seon-ga means "the best singer of gagok." Gyu-il Ha was an unchallenged figure in the gagok community. Let''s travel to the relaxing and peaceful universe of traditional gagok through his musical life.

INFORMATION

Date :

11. 15(Sun) PM 3:00 Yeakdang(Main Hall)

Location :

Yeakdang, NCKTPA

Price of admission :

A seat 20,000 Won B seat 10,000 Won

Hosting :

NCKTPA

Support:

Gugak Broadcast Service, KTV

Invitees :

Taebok Lee (former Minister of Health and Welfare)

Commentary :

Sunja Jo (Gagok performing artist, designated as Important Intangible Cultural Asset No. 30)

Information :

02-580-3300~3, 3333(ARS) / www.gugak.go.kr

Program

Gagok, songs of gentlemen

Gagok is a type of long lyric song cycle sung by professional vocalists with chamber ensemble accompaniment enjoyed by Korean scholars in their private salons or professional singer''s club during the Joseon dynasty. Gagok is used to accompany a type of traditional poetry called sijo. Lengths of gagok songs are varied, some song last fifteen minutes long while short one lasts only three minutes. Gagok comprised of five song sections with an additional instrumental prelude (called daeyeoeum) and an interlude (jungnyeoeum). The interaction between the instrumental ensemble and the voice creates a rich yet subtle contrast which is characteristic of gagok. There are 26 songs for male voice and 15 songs for female voice and all these songs are in different tempo scheme and in two different modes.

Gasa, dignity in freedom

Gasa is a type of long narrative song performed by professional singers and singing style is quite similar to gagok and sijo. Gasa poems developed during the Joseon dynasty and a number of Chinese classical poems are the main texts of gasa songs. Only twelve gasa repertoires have been transmitted to the present day and these are called as 12 gasa. Basically gasa is similar to gagok and sijo since these classical vocal genres are enjoyed by patronage and gentry and aristocrats. These genres can be distinguished in formality of poems, instrumental accompaniment, singing style, and musical characteristics.

Sijo, simple and elegant songs

Sijo is a short classical lyric song that uses sijo poems as text, similar to gagok, the artistic long lyric song. Three stanzas of simple poem text of sijo also reflect local popular sentiments and life style. At the same time, among jeongga (classical vocal genres including gagok, gasa and sijo), sijo is the easiest to sing and therefore was most favored by the common people. Thus sijo offers easy and simple everyday songs in gagok style. Unlike gagok, sijo can be performed without instrumental ensemble, performed with an hourglass drum, janggu and sometimes the vocalist even accompanies him/herself by beating the rhythmic patterns on the knees with their hands.