Asian Traditional Shows to Mark Chuseok
By Chung Ah-young
Staff Reporter
The National Center for Korean Traditional Performing Arts (NCKTPA) will present a cultural event with a variety of ethnic shows from Asian countries on Sept. 27, just a week before the Chuseok (Korean Thanksgiving Day) holiday.
Titled “Asia, Asia, Ah!sia! With Multi-Cultural Families,” the show is part of a program for multi-cultural families the center has been organizing for the last eight years.
Artists from various Asian countries such as Thailand, Vietnam, Malaysia, Mongolia, Tibet and Korea will gather to showcase their talents and unique traditions through folk music and dance.
The center’s national dance troupe will perform a fan dance called ``buchaechum,’’ while the national music troupe will play folk songs such as ``Beautiful Country’’ and ``Festival’’ to introduce Korean culture to the audience.
About 10 students from Mongolia, Malaysia, Vietnam and Tibet who attend the Korean National University of Arts under the ``Art Major Asian Scholarship’’ will give a traditional performance.
Also, ``Multi-Cultural Families’ Eoullim Female Choir,’’ a 12-member group consisting of women from China, Mongolia, Uzbekistan and Japan, will sing Korean folk songs such as ``Gangwon Arirang’’ and ``Dove’s House’’ together. The group members learn the Korean language and culture at the Pocheon Culture Center.
``Lai Ka Ten Kon,’’ a Thailand’s folksong, played on the Pong Lang, a traditional type of xylophone, and the Phin, a traditional guitar, will invoke the sound of a rooster.
The Pong Lang is a melodic percussion played by two players with a hard stick whose shape is similar to a xylophone, consisting of 15 wooden bars strung together with a strong rope at each end. The instrument creates dynamic and rhythmical sounds.
The Phin has a body and neck, and the first part of the tuning head is carved from one piece of wood, hollowed out, and covered with a think wooden soundboard. The instrument is played with a plectrum and the sound is like a simple guitar.
``Dok Lu,’’ a nomadic song, will create ethnic sounds that hold the beauty of Tibetan nature.
Vietnamese musicians will play the ``Dan Bau,’’ a one-string zither, and the ``Dan Tranh,’’ a 16-string long zither, to produce alluring and creative sounds.
Also, Mongolian artists will produce native sounds with string instruments ― the Morin Huur and Hochir ― which reflect their nomadic roots.
``Orid Bielgee,’’ a unique form of dance originated from the Mongolian nomadic way of life, will bring their natural beauty to life here.
In addition, the show spotlights the performance ``Joget,’’ the most popular traditional dance in Malaysia. The dance is performed at cultural festivals, wedding celebrations and other social functions. The Joget is a couple dance with a fairly quick tempo. There’s a sense of teasing and playfulness between the partners. In the show, Malaysian performers will present ``Zaplnai,’’ a masterpiece that combines the elements of traditional martial arts and dance.
The show will take place at ``Byeolmajiteo’’ ― the 2,000-seat outdoor theater ― at the center. Admission is free and due to limited seats, admittance will be in the order of arrival. For more information, call (02) 580-3300-3 or visit www.gugak.go.kr.