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| Musicians from Korea, Mongolia, Vietnam, India and Indonesia gather for "Asia SORI Project 2019," presenting their performance during the National Gugak Center's "2019 World Music." Courtesy of National Gugak Center |
By Anna J. Park
Various music groups from around the world will present their traditional and unique sounds to Korean audiences this autumn. The National Gugak Center, which mainly focuses on presenting and promoting Korean traditional music genres and performances, has invited groups from countries including Mongolia, Georgia and New Zealand to hold a series of four performances every Friday from Sept. 20 to Oct. 11.
Under the banner of "2019 World Music," the groups will feature traditional their own country's traditional music. This is the second year for the National Gugak Center to hold this type of world music concert, since the first in 2018. Launched as an attempt to expand international exchanges with traditional arts institutions from other countries and to meet the needs of audience members who look for unique sounds, last year's world music concerts garnered positive reviews.
The opening concert on Sept. 20 presents Mongolia's traditional lyrical chant "Urtin duu" and folk dances called "Bii biyelgee." Both genres of traditional arts have been inscribed on UNESCO's list of Intangible Cultural Heritage of Humanity, and distinguished artists from the country will perform their traditions that have been enjoyed by the people of Mongolia.
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| Georgia's Iberi Choir will present traditional polyphony vocal music to a Korean audience Sept. 27. Courtesy of National Gugak Center |
On Sept. 27, the Iberi Choir from Georgia features age-old choral polyphony vocal music as well as traditional instrumental music to a Korean audience. The Georgian vocal tradition of polyphony is also listed as a UNESCO Intangible Cultural Heritage; the music is also included in Voyager 2's golden disc launched into the space, representing the sound of the Earth.
The six-member Iberi Choir will present the polyphony music from various regions, including historical ballads, liturgical chants and lullabies, enjoyed for many centuries in the Eastern European country.
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| New Zealand's "Modern Maori Quartet" will perform Oct. 4. Courtesy of National Gugak Center |
The Modern Maori Quartet from New Zealand will present a blend of traditional and contemporary sounds at their performance on Oct. 4. The four members of the music ensemble have a wide spectrum of genres from waiata, or the traditional lyrical melody of Maori people, to pop ballad music.
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| "2019 World Music" will hold four performances every Friday evening at 8 p.m. at the National Gugak Center from Sept. 20 to Oct. 11. Courtesy of National Gugak Center |
The "2019 World Music" will end with a performance by "Asia SORI Project," a music ensemble of nine musicians from Korea, Mongolia, Vietnam, India and Indonesia. The music group is formed as part of a project by this year's Jeonju International Sori Festival, slated to be held in early October. Aiming to share Asian artistic values and diversity, the music group will present originally composed music as well as representative traditional music of their countries.
The performances will be held every Friday evening at 8 p.m. at the National Gugak Center, located in the Seocho district, southern Seoul. Reservations can be made at websites: http://www.gugak.go.kr, http://ticket.interpark.com, or call 02-580-3300. Admission tickets is 10,000 won ($8.5) or 20,000 won ($17).
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