The Korea Times close
National
  • Politics
  • Diplomacy
  • Defense
  • Labor & Environment
  • Law & Crime
  • Health & Welfare
  • Embassy
  • Seoul & Provinces
  • Education
  • Foreign Communities
  • Obituaries
  • Multicultural Youth Award
Biz & Tech
  • Auto
  • IT
  • Game
  • Manufacturing
  • Retail & Food
  • Energy
  • Construction
  • Airlines
Finance
  • Policies
  • Economy
  • Markets
  • Banks
  • Non-banks
Opinion
  • Editorial
  • Columns
  • Thoughts of the Times
  • Cartoon
  • Today in History
  • Blogs
  • Tribune Service
  • Blondie & Garfield
Lifestyle
  • Arts
  • Books
  • Travel & Cuisine
  • Trend
  • Fashion
  • Around Town
  • Fortune Telling
  • Translation Award
Entertainment
  • K-pop
  • K-dramas & Shows
  • Movies
  • Music
  • Performances
  • Asia Model Festival
Sports
  • Football
  • Golf
  • Baseball
  • Other Sports
World
  • Asia Pacific
  • Americas
  • Europe & Africa
  • SCMP
Video
  • On the Spot
  • Feature
  • News
Photos
  • Photo News
  • Darkroom
Community
  • The Korea Times
  • all menu
  • search
  • facebookfacebook
  • twittertwitter
  • youtubeyoutube
  • Site Map
  • E-paper
  • Subscribe
  • Register
  • LogIn
search close
  • The Korea Times
  • all menu
  • search
  • facebookfacebook
  • twittertwitter
  • youtubeyoutube
  • Site Map
  • E-paper
  • Subscribe
  • Register
  • LogIn
search close
Lifestyle
  • Arts
  • Books
  • Travel & Cuisine
  • Trend
  • Fashion
  • Around Town
  • Fortune Telling
  • Translation Award
Sun, December 15, 2019 | 13:56
Korean Traditions
Kim Yul-hee blends pansori, reggae
Posted : 2018-01-31 11:21
Updated : 2018-01-31 14:02
Mail
Print Preview
Font Size Up
Font Size Down
Kim Yul-hee / Courtesy of Kim Yul-hee
Kim Yul-hee / Courtesy of Kim Yul-hee

By Jon Dunbar

Many music scholars consider folk music universal across all cultures. This may help explain why pansori, a traditional Korean narrative musical genre, blends so well with reggae, a Jamaica-originated musical genre drawing on its own local traditions.

The latest _ but not the first _ Korean pansori-reggae project is a collaboration between reggae band NST & the Soul Sauce and sorikkun (pansori singer) Kim Yul-hee.

"There seems to be some point where reggae and pansori meet," Kim told The Korea Times. "Of course, the breathing cannot be quite the same. But it is more fun than difficult when attuning together. When the existing pansori is combined with reggae, we sometimes reduce or attach some lyrics, or compose repetitions, composing the song with flexibility according to the styles or ideas of the music."

The collaboration came together at last year's Muju Film Festival, where Kim connected with the reggae band, led by bassist Noh Seon-teck, performing live as part of a film piece titled "Reggae Inna Film, Heungbu."

Since then, Kim has remained as a guest vocalist with the band, recording together and accompanying them on global tours. She went with them in June to Sierra Nevada World Music Festival in the U.S., where they performed with legendary Jamaican producer Lee "Scratch" Perry, and to Colombia for the CirculArt Tour from Oct. 31 to Nov. 7.

They have a handful of songs together. On NST's brilliantly named album "Back When Tigers Smoked," she provides vocal sounds for the song "Red Tiger." Their repertoire also includes "Monk Song" and "Madame Ppaengdeok" from the pansori play "Simcheongga." Kim says they have more songs and will continue to record together this year.

She also sings a more modern style with the jazz fusion group NEQ, whose album "Passing of Illusion" won a Korean Music Award in 2016 for Best Crossover Album.

But this Gwangju-born sorikkun hasn't lost sight of traditional pansori. She has been in pansori for about 20 years since her youth, and studied under the late Sung Woo-hyang, Park Ae-ri and Han Seung-suk. She won the grand prize at the 2013 National Namdo Folk Song Contest and is a member of Baraji, a band of traditional instrument players.

"I sometimes go for modern when I do collaborations, but my pansori style is mostly traditional," she said.
"Pansori is called the flower of traditional Korean music. Its sound is tough, but it is the most delicate. There exist both joy and sorrow. There are triumphs and tragedies. I think pansori is the biggest bowl that could contain all those emotions."
To hear NST & the Soul Sauce and Kim Yul-hee, visit the "Eastern Standard Sounds" channel on YouTube.



Emailjonghyundunbar@gmai.com Article ListMore articles by this reporter








 
 
  • numberA grain of salt: How China tarnished Korea's 'white gold'
  • number[VIEW] Pyongyang trapped in illusion of 'North Korean superiority'
  • numberLG honorary chairman dies at age 94
  • numberUS to be 'tested soon' on nuclear talks with North Korea
  • numberPyeongChang invites tourists to trout and snow festivals
  • numberN. Korea conducts 'another crucial test'
  • numberMultiple pileups on highway kill at least 5, injure over two dozens
  • numberKia workers reject tentative wage deal
  • numberSamsung VP gets jail term for attempting to break up labor union
  • numberSeoul stocks set to extend gains next week on trade deal optimism
  • Male rapper convicted of sexually insulting female singer in lyrics Male rapper convicted of sexually insulting female singer in lyrics
  • Actor Lee Byung-hun confident with his new film 'The Man Standing Next' Actor Lee Byung-hun confident with his new film 'The Man Standing Next'
  • Cosmic Girls' Dawon takes forced rest over mental distress Cosmic Girls' Dawon takes forced rest over mental distress
  • Actor Park Jung-min talks about his real personality Actor Park Jung-min talks about his real personality
  • 'Hurrah for Women 2' unfolds touching family drama 'Hurrah for Women 2' unfolds touching family drama
DARKROOM
  • Children deserve better

    Children deserve better

  • Global climate change: time is running out

    Global climate change: time is running out

  • CA cave fire burns more than 4,300 acres

    CA cave fire burns more than 4,300 acres

  • No money, no hope: South Korea's 'Dirt Spoons'

    No money, no hope: South Korea's 'Dirt Spoons'

  • Hong Kong democrats score historic victory

    Hong Kong democrats score historic victory

  • About Korea Times
  • CEO Message
  • Times History
  • Content Sales
  • Media Kit
  • Contact Us
  • Location
  • Privacy Statement
  • Terms of Service
  • Mobile Service
  • RSS Service
  • Ombudsman
  • hankookilbo
  • Dongwha Group
  • Code of Ethics
Copyright