Korean music takes on new vibes

Jazz musician Shin Kwan-woong, left, collaborates with daegeum (bamboo flute) player Lee Saeng-kang at a showcase introducing the 2016 Yeowoorak Festival at the National Theater of Korea in Seoul on June 7. / Courtesy of National Theater of Korea

By Kwon Mee-yoo

Korean music lovers eagerly await July, imagining what this year’s Yeowoorak Festival will bring, exploring the endless possibilities of gugak (traditional Korean music).

Yeowoorak Festival, organized and held by the National Theater of Korea (NTOK) during its off-season, has become a staple for the theater since its inauguration in 2010. Rooted in traditional Korean music, the festival brings together a variety of artists from different backgrounds to breathe new life into the folk genres.

The festival’s title, Yeowoorak, comes from an abbreviation of “yeogi woori eumagi itda,” meaning "here is our music."

"We wanted to introduce new artists to new audiences and provide the artists opportunities to embark on a new adventure through the Yeowoorak Festival," said NTOK CEO Ahn Ho-sang. "It is all about passion and courage pursuing an innovative form of art."

This year's Yeowoorak Festival is themed "Different Angles" and four sub-themes represent diverse perspectives on Korean music _ Legend, Different, Discovery and Next.

Sohn Hye-ri, president of the Korean Traditional Performing Arts Foundation, helms the festival this year, adding a fresh twist to the seven-year-old event and differentiating herself from previous artistic directors, which included Korean-Japanese crossover musician Yang Bang-ean and jazz musician Nah Youn-sun.

"I have worked as a producer for a long time, but this is my first time directing a festival,” Sohn said. “There are people from different backgrounds participating in this festival, including classical musicians, actors, a chef and popular singers, but I believe all of them share the same blood of Korean music."

Jazz pianist Cho Yoon-seung, left, plays with double bassist Sung Min-je at a showcase introducing 2016 Yeowoorak Festival at the National Theater of Korea on June 7. The two will perform at a concert titled “Piano Men” on July 16 and 17. / Courtesy of National Theater of Korea

Mix of old and new

There is about a 60-year age gap from master daegeum (bamboo flute) player Lee Saeng-kang to the youngest sorikkun (pansori vocalist) Ko Yeong-yeol, but the participants are likeminded when it comes to music.

The Korean music fest opens with an event titled "Begin Again" on July 8, featuring Lee Saeng-kang and jazz musician Shin Kwan-woong and his band. The two released an album combining jazz and traditional Korean music in 1999, so they are not new to the mix.

"I have played jazz for decades but there's just something I cannot achieve because the genre originated from African-Americans,” Shin said. “I didn't want to copy their music, so I tried to incorporate elements from traditional Korean music. Young traditional Korean musicians these days know pop and jazz rhythms well, but Lee sticks to the endemic use of Korean rhythms. It creates a great mix with jazz music."

Lee agreed with Shin, saying: "The instrument is a tool for music and it can go with any kind of music. I have a passion for this project."

Another legend participating in the festival is Kim Young-jae, a traditional artist who plays the haegeum (a string instrument resembling a fiddle), gayageum (12-string zither) and geomungo (six-string zither), as well as being a gifted vocalist and dancer.

Kim will present "Into the Time" on July 19. At the concert, he will unravel the tales of his lifelong pursuit of Korean music, including how he began learning each instrument, his artistic philosophies and his own original compositions.

Rediscovering Korean music

This year's Yeowoorak has a wide range of participating artists, and those who do not come from a musical background add an interesting twist.

"A Walk in the Moonlight Night" on July 9 and 10 is hosted by actors Cho Jae-hyun and Hwang Seok-jeong. Cho starred in Im Kwon-taek's film "Beyond the Years" and Hwang majored in traditional Korean music in university. They will talk about traditional Korean music, accompanied by fusion band Second Moon and sorikkun Min Eun-kyung and Yoo Taepyeongyang.

Chef Chang Jin-woo, who owns restaurants in the Itaewon area, will stage "Chang Jin-woo's Hill," a modern interpretation of "Donghaean Byeolsingut," a village ritual held in coastal communities of eastern Korea. Though now better known as a food and beverage entrepreneur, Chang studied traditional Korean music in university before changing his major to photography.

"People have groundless fears toward the gut, a shamanistic exorcism ritual, but in fact it marks a big feast in the village,” Chang said. “I want to throw a question about entertainment by modernizing the Donghaean Byeolsingut."

"Piano Men" on July 16 and 17 will be a rare opportunity to listen to Korean music on two pianos. Classical pianist Park Chong-hun will join jazz pianist Cho Yoon-seung, accompanied by double bassist Sung Min-je.

"I come from a classical background, while Cho comes from jazz,” Park said. “We are working on how to mix the characteristics of each genre, not just borrowing rhythms from traditional Korean music."

Cho, who will premiere new piece "Echoes," based on the traditional Korean pentatonic scale, at the concert, said he did not know much about Korean music until he was invited for this project. "It is a great opportunity for me, crossing over different genres of music,” Cho said. “I believe that a new generation can create new music, and combining classical music, jazz and Korean traditional music can be an answer to that."

Film composer Lee Ji-su collaborates with the National Orchestra of Korea to present the second edition of the hit "Cinema Concert" on July 21 and 22. This time, Lee has picked timeless hits from the 20th century featuring silver screen stars Marilyn Monroe, Audrey Hepburn, James Dean and more. He has composed new scores to the films, reviving the classics with traditional Korean music.

“Blossom” on July 28 and 29 sheds light on rising Korean musicians including Coterie CAIN, Live to THE, Ko Yeong-yeol, Yoo Jisook Project, Kim Hee-young and I.S.M. This reflects Yeowoorak’s aim to nurture young Korean musicians and support collaborations among them.

The festival runs July 8-30 at various venues of the NTOK. Tickets cost 30,000 won, except for “Blossom,” which is 10,000 won. For more information, visit www.ntok.go.kr or call 02-2280-4114.