Sancheong Gisan Gugakdang, Seventh Gugak Performance ... Intangible Cultural Asset Master Lee Saenggang's Stage

The Originator of 'Fusion Gugak', Crossover Collaborations Since the 1960s

Holder of Important Intangible Cultural Property No. 45, Daegum Sanjo Art Lee Saenggang [Image source=Sancheong-gun]

[Asia Economy Yeongnam Reporting Headquarters Reporter Choi Soon-kyung] Gisan Gugakdang in Sancheong-gun, Gyeongnam, is expected to be filled with the sounds of Daegum Sanjo melodies that hasten the arrival of autumn.

Gyeongnam Sancheong-gun and the Gisan Gugak Festival Committee announced on the 8th that the seventh gugak performance of the '2021 Sancheong Gugak Festival' will be held at 3 p.m. on the 11th at Gisan Gugakdang.

This performance will feature Master Lee Saeng-gang, the holder of Important Intangible Cultural Property No. 45, Daegum Sanjo, on the Daepat Theater stage.

Master Lee is the only person who received teachings from Han Joo-hwan (1904?1963), who inherited the melodies of Han Suk-gu (1849?1925) and Park Jong-gi (1879?1939), the greatest Daegum players of their time and founders of Daegum Sanjo.

He is also recognized as a figure who pioneered new realms of Daegum Sanjo by adding Menari melodies, which require highly advanced playing techniques.

In particular, he is a master musician of our time with outstanding performance skills not only on the Daegum but also on all wind instruments including the piri, danso, taepyeongso, sogeum, and tungso.

Born in 1937 and now 84 years old, Master Lee is called the originator of 'fusion gugak.'

Sancheong-gun has continued regular gugak performances every Saturday this year as well as last year.

An official from the county said, “The regular gugak performances at Gisan Gugakdang have established themselves as traditional cultural content representing Sancheong-gun and Namsa Yedamchon,” and added, “We hope many people will enjoy the sentiment of our traditional sounds that harmonize well with the coming autumn.”