The Korea Times
amn_close.png
amn_bl.png
National
  • Politics
  • Foreign Affairs
  • Multicultural Community
  • Defense
  • Environment & Animals
  • Law & Crime
  • Society
  • Health & Science
amn_bl.png
Business
  • Tech
  • Bio
  • Companies
  • World Expo 2030
amn_bl.png
Finance
  • Companies
  • Economy
  • Markets
  • Cryptocurrency
amn_bl.png
Opinion
  • Editorial
  • Columns
  • Thoughts of the Times
  • Cartoon
  • Today in History
  • Blogs
  • Tribune Service
  • Blondie & Garfield
  • Letter to the Editor
amn_bl.png
Lifestyle
  • Travel & Food
  • Trends
  • People & Events
  • Books
  • Around Town
  • Fortune Telling
amn_bl.png
Entertainment & Arts
  • K-pop
  • Films
  • Shows & Dramas
  • Music
  • Theater & Others
amn_bl.png
Sports
amn_bl.png
World
  • SCMP
  • Asia
amn_bl.png
Video
  • Korean Storytellers
  • POPKORN
  • Culture
  • People
  • News
amn_bl.png
Photos
  • Photo News
  • Darkroom
amn_NK.png amn_DR.png amn_LK.png amn_LE.png
  • bt_fb_on_2022.svgbt_fb_over_2022.svg
  • bt_X_on_2023.svgbt_X_over_2023.svg
  • bt_youtube_on_2022.svgbt_youtube_over_2022.svg
  • bt_instagram_on_2022.svgbt_instagram_over_2022.svg
The Korea Times
amn_close.png
amn_bl.png
National
  • Politics
  • Foreign Affairs
  • Multicultural Community
  • Defense
  • Environment & Animals
  • Law & Crime
  • Society
  • Health & Science
amn_bl.png
Business
  • Tech
  • Bio
  • Companies
  • World Expo 2030
amn_bl.png
Finance
  • Companies
  • Economy
  • Markets
  • Cryptocurrency
amn_bl.png
Opinion
  • Editorial
  • Columns
  • Thoughts of the Times
  • Cartoon
  • Today in History
  • Blogs
  • Tribune Service
  • Blondie & Garfield
  • Letter to the Editor
amn_bl.png
Lifestyle
  • Travel & Food
  • Trends
  • People & Events
  • Books
  • Around Town
  • Fortune Telling
amn_bl.png
Entertainment & Arts
  • K-pop
  • Films
  • Shows & Dramas
  • Music
  • Theater & Others
amn_bl.png
Sports
amn_bl.png
World
  • SCMP
  • Asia
amn_bl.png
Video
  • Korean Storytellers
  • POPKORN
  • Culture
  • People
  • News
amn_bl.png
Photos
  • Photo News
  • Darkroom
amn_NK.png amn_DR.png amn_LK.png amn_LE.png
  • bt_fb_on_2022.svgbt_fb_over_2022.svg
  • bt_X_on_2023.svgbt_X_over_2023.svg
  • bt_youtube_on_2022.svgbt_youtube_over_2022.svg
  • bt_instagram_on_2022.svgbt_instagram_over_2022.svg
  • Login
  • Register
  • Login
  • Register
  • The Korea Times
  • search
  • all menu
  • Login
  • Subscribe
  • Photos
  • Video
  • World
  • Sports
  • Opinion
  • Entertainment & Art
  • Lifestyle
  • Finance
  • Business
  • National
  • North Korea
  • 1

    Methods to avoid YouTube, Netflix restrictions go viral

  • 3

    'Dune: Part Two': most challenging but proud work, says director Denis Villeneuve

  • 5

    Korea's exports of dried seaweed hit new record in 2023

  • 7

    Hunting 'crow thief' on Korea's east coast in 1930s

  • 9

    Le Sserafim makes waves with English single 'Perfect Night'

  • 11

    Skepticism mounts over shareholder activism at Samsung C&T

  • 13

    This year's four-character Chinese idiom chosen

  • 15

    'New initiative on NK' lacks balanced strategy: experts

  • 17

    Monthly active users of Instagram, Facebook declining amid fake news, scams

  • 19

    BTS' RM, Jimin, V, Jungkook to enlist in military this week

  • 2

    Anti-dog meat legislation looks doomed as Assembly session ends in vain

  • 4

    N. Korea's fear of external info grows after Seoul allows sending propaganda leaflets

  • 6

    Leaders of Samsung, SK to visit Netherlands for chip alliance

  • 8

    INTERVIEWReform, foreign talent crucial to revitalizing Korean economy: McKinsey

  • 10

    Calls grow for shift from two-party political system

  • 12

    Yoon heads to Netherlands to boost semiconductor cooperation

  • 14

    All BTS members begin military service, talk of group reunion in 2025

  • 16

    Gov't boosts reserves to appease public jitters over urea shortage

  • 18

    Hana Bank hosts foreign exchange quiz for employees

  • 20

    Eximbank teams up with US counterpart on decarbonization

Close scrollclosebutton

Close for 24 hours

Open
  • The Korea Times
  • search
  • all menu
  • Login
  • Subscribe
  • Photos
  • Video
  • World
  • Sports
  • Opinion
  • Entertainment & Art
  • Lifestyle
  • Finance
  • Business
  • National
  • North Korea
  • Korean Storytellers
  • POPKORN
  • Culture
  • People
  • News
Tue, December 12, 2023 | 08:05
Korean music expert Heyman dies at 83
Posted : 2014-03-03 19:18
Updated : 2014-03-03 19:18
Print PreviewPrint Preview
Font Size UpFont Size Up
Font Size DownFont Size Down
  • facebook
  • twitter
  • kakaolink
  • whatsapp
  • reddit
  • mailto
  • link
Alan Heyman
Alan Heyman
By Fred Jeremy Seligson

Alan Heyman, a composer and reputed expert of Korean traditional music, died after a long bout with spinal problems at his home in Seoul, Saturday. He was 83. Heyman, who adopted the Korean name Hae Eui-man, is survived by his wife Choe Ok-ja, their daughter, Hay Laam, a professor at Canada's York University, and two sons.


Born in March 16, 1931, to Jewish parents Charles and Lillian Heyman in New York, Heyman studied pre-med at the University of Colorado and arrived in Seoul in 1953 after being drafted to serve in the Korean War (1950-53).

He served as a medic in the original M.A.S.H. (Mobile Army Surgical Hospital) and had many life-endangering experiences rescuing and caring for injured soldiers of the United Nations Joint Forces.

While surrounded by Chinese troops hidden in the hills at night, he later recalled he would hear the clatter of their drums and the blowing of their strange and eerie wind instruments. These sounds so fascinated him that when he returned to America after the war he entered Columbia University and earned an M.A. in Music Education, focusing on piano and composition. At that time Korean music was virtually unknown to American academia.

While at Columbia, Heyman met a Korean scholar and told him about his war experience and his fascination with the Chinese "music." The man urged him to go to Korea and study the music firsthand. And so, he became one of the few American civilians to fly back to Korea after the war.

There he went to Insa-dong in Seoul and introduced himself to the National Music Academy. In exchange for English lessons, he was allowed to study every subject they had. He learned how to play the "janggo" (hourglass drum), "pili" (reed flute), 12 string "gayagum," the "Farmer's Dance," the Buddhist "Crane Dance," "Mask Dance" and other forms of Korean performing arts. His teachers included musicians who would be later designated as intangible national treasures by the government.

Heyman is considered as the first composer to score Korean traditional music Western-style. He was also among the first Westerners to perform throughout Korea with a Korean troupe, playing the oboe-like traditional instrument "taepyeongso" at events in Daegu and also at the yearly National Folk Arts Festival.

He was the first person to bring a troupe of Korean performers, including future "living national treasures" to perform at venues throughout the United States, and also on another occasion throughout Europe. Later, he brought the first Korean shaman, the celebrated Kim Kum-hwa, to perform in Washington, D.C. and in New York City.

Heyman did ground-breaking field work on Korean performing arts, and recorded and scored folk songs that otherwise would have been lost. He collected priceless documents now stored in library archives. He translated the first material on Korean music and shamanism, and wrote several books on these topics, such as "The Traditional Music and Dance of Korea, and Muga" and "The Ritual Songs of Korean Shamans."

He gave numerous presentations for Koreans and the foreign community on Korean folk, shaman and court music and dance, such as at Gyeongbok Palace invited by President of Korea Yun Bo-seon in 1960, and numerous times for the Royal Asiatic Society (RASKB) which made him an "Honorary Lifetime Member."

He got prestigious awards from Korean presidents, including the late Kim Dae-jung and Lee Myung-bak, for his cultural contributions.

A whole generation of older Korean musicians has known and revered him. Toward the end of his life he never complained about his health and with a calm heart and good humor accepted the gradual decline. His was a life of service to others, in the name of Korean folk music, its joyful and sad melodies and ever-changing feelings. He loved Korea so much that he became a Korean citizen. Alan's body was dressed in a gold silk hanbok, and cremated on Monday morning. Condolences can be sent to his former address Alanheyman@yahoo.com

Fred Jeremy Seligson is a councilor of the Royal Asiatic Society in Seoul. — ED.

 
wooribank
LG group
Top 10 Stories
1[INTERVIEW] Reform, foreign talent crucial to revitalizing Korean economy: McKinsey INTERVIEWReform, foreign talent crucial to revitalizing Korean economy: McKinsey
2This year's four-character Chinese idiom chosen This year's four-character Chinese idiom chosen
3[INTERVIEW] Allgot hits jackpot with frozen gimbap in US INTERVIEWAllgot hits jackpot with frozen gimbap in US
4Korea considers producing urea as China curbs exports Korea considers producing urea as China curbs exports
5[INTERVIEW] Korea, Netherlands to sign multiple deals in chip, energy, defense on Yoon's state visit: Dutch ambassadorINTERVIEWKorea, Netherlands to sign multiple deals in chip, energy, defense on Yoon's state visit: Dutch ambassador
6Digital Chosun Releases Enhanced TOEFL Practice Online (TPO) Digital Chosun Releases Enhanced TOEFL Practice Online (TPO)
7A glimpse inside Boeing's P-8 manufacturing plant A glimpse inside Boeing's P-8 manufacturing plant
8Deadly cost of slips of the tongue in N. Korea Deadly cost of slips of the tongue in N. Korea
9Indian embassy showcases rich culinary traditions, flavors Indian embassy showcases rich culinary traditions, flavors
10Representative 'kimchi coin' Wemix makes comeback amid ongoing scandals Representative 'kimchi coin' Wemix makes comeback amid ongoing scandals
Top 5 Entertainment News
1Le Sserafim makes waves with English single 'Perfect Night' Le Sserafim makes waves with English single 'Perfect Night'
2All BTS members begin military service, talk of group reunion in 2025 All BTS members begin military service, talk of group reunion in 2025
3'Dune: Part Two': most challenging but proud work, says director Denis Villeneuve 'Dune: Part Two': most challenging but proud work, says director Denis Villeneuve
4Kohei Nawa goes 'cosmic' in his disturbingly mesmerizing world Kohei Nawa goes 'cosmic' in his disturbingly mesmerizing world
5[INTERVIEW] How AmazeVR revolutionizes aespa's LYNK-POP concert INTERVIEWHow AmazeVR revolutionizes aespa's LYNK-POP concert
DARKROOM
  • It's beginning to look a lot like Christmas

    It's beginning to look a lot like Christmas

  • 2023 Thanksgiving parade in NYC

    2023 Thanksgiving parade in NYC

  • Appreciation of autumn colors

    Appreciation of autumn colors

  • Our children deserve better

    Our children deserve better

  • Israel-Gaza conflict erupts into war

    Israel-Gaza conflict erupts into war

  • Turkey-Syria earthquake

    Turkey-Syria earthquake

  • Nepal plane crash

    Nepal plane crash

  • Brazil capital uprising

    Brazil capital uprising

  • Happy New Year 2023

    Happy New Year 2023

  • World Cup 2022 Final - Argentina vs France

    World Cup 2022 Final - Argentina vs France

CEO & Publisher: Oh Young-jin
Digital News Email: webmaster@koreatimes.co.kr
Tel: 02-724-2114
Online newspaper registration No: 서울,아52844
Date of registration: 2020.02.05
Masthead: The Korea Times
Copyright © koreatimes.co.kr. All rights reserved.
  • About Us
  • Introduction
  • History
  • Contact Us
  • Products & Services
  • Subscribe
  • E-paper
  • RSS Service
  • Content Sales
  • Site Map
  • Policy
  • Code of Ethics
  • Ombudsman
  • Privacy Statement
  • Terms of Service
  • Copyright Policy
  • Family Site
  • Hankook Ilbo
  • Dongwha Group