Lecture Concert Held on 23rd and 24th at Woorisori Library... Featuring Gyeonggi 12 Japga, Hwimori Japga, etc.
Small-scale Jwachang Performances Available on 25th and 26th at Donhwamun Gugakdang
Jongno-gu (District Mayor Jeong Munheon) will present the 'Seoul Sori: Japga 雜歌' lecture concert and performance on the 23rd-24th and 25th-26th at the Woori Sori Library and Seoul Donhwamun Gugakdang to promote the everyday use and expansion of Korean traditional music.
The Donhwamun-ro area has historically been home to institutions related to gugak (Korean traditional music), and even today, it is considered the center of gugak in South Korea, with numerous masters, vocal instructors, related shops, and research institutes located throughout the area.
Accordingly, Jongno-gu established the Woori Sori Library, a gugak-specialized library, to widely promote the beautiful sounds of Korea and to discover and support emerging gugak artists. The district has also been dedicated to supporting youth and young gugak musicians who will lead new trends in the gugak community.
Additionally, through the Korean Sound series, performances highlighting regional characteristics such as 'Minyo Sasek' and 'Our Sound, from Pyongyang to Seoul' have been held, receiving favorable reviews from citizens.
This 'Seoul Sori: Japga 雜歌' event is also planned as part of the Korean Sound series. It aims to reexamine the significance of Donhwamun, which once served as the center of Seoul Japga, and to convey the profound resonance of Japga.
The lecture concerts, focusing on helping audiences understand Seoul Japga, will be held on the 23rd and 24th at the Woori Sori Library, while performances led by sorikkun (traditional vocalists) will take place on the 25th and 26th at the Donhwamun Gugakdang.
First, the Woori Sori Library lecture concerts will be hosted by gugak artist Kang Hyoju, introducing various pieces from the 'Gyeonggi 12 Japga' including 'The Swallow,' 'Sochunhyangga,' 'Sujapga' (Under the Blue Mountain), and 'Hwimori Japga' (Rock Song). The subsequent performances at Seoul Donhwamun Gugakdang will feature a small-scale jwachang (accompaniment) ensemble, allowing audiences to fully appreciate the sorikkun’s voice and immerse themselves in the charm of Japga.
For reservations and more details, please refer to the Jongno Cultural Foundation and Seoul Donhwamun Gugakdang websites or contact them by phone.
A representative from Jongno-gu stated, “This will be an excellent opportunity to experience the diverse Seoul sounds, from slow and long narrative Japga to fast-paced Japga. We hope many interested people will attend.”
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