Lotus Voice (2015)
baritone & 14 players (1110/0110/2pc,hp,pn/11111)
11minutes
commissioned by Georgina Joshi Foundation
premiered by Indiana University New Music Ensemble w/ Connor Lidell (bar) & David Dzubay (cond)
Pansori is aurally transmitted epic tradition of my native South Korea from the 17th century. Pansori works are usually 3-9 hours long and performed by only one vocalist (called sorikkun) and one barrel drum (called buk) player (called gosu). The singers tell the stories with singing arias in a highly stylistic manner from memory. As demanding this tradition is for the performers, it is entertaining for the audience, which is why it was loved by a wide range of people – from the lower class to the king until early 20th century.
Lotus Voice (2015) is a 11-minute lecture concert about Pansori with 4 excerpts that are transcribed, translated (except one), and arranged for Baritone and 14 players. Not only the excerpts but also the ‘lecture part’ incorporates musical features of Pansori tradition (i.e. vocal techniques and rhythmic patterns), making this piece a Pansori about Pansori.
One of the interesting facts about this tradition is that the singers strive for a very scratchy or damaged voice. It is because such a voice is believed to be proper to deliver the emotions powerfully, especially the sorrow (called hahn), one of the most significant and artful feelings. Many Pansori singers, therefore, intentionally hurt their voices, or in more extreme cases, other parts of their body like eyes, to fully embrace the sorrow of life.
This masochistic pursuit of artistry or beauty, reminded me of Lotus Feet – an ancient Chinese custom to bind the feet of young girls to prevent them from growing, as regarded beautiful (the lotus symbolizes purity of mind and body in Buddhism), from which the title of this piece is derived. Soon, however, I realized how common for us it is actually, to go through various pain, even voluntarily, to achieve a deeper level of mastery.
Note: the performance will be accompanied by a slide-show, and a short portion of an introductory YouTube video clip about Pansori (http://youtu.be/YfGT-mN6ngw) will be played before the piece begins.
11minutes
commissioned by Georgina Joshi Foundation
premiered by Indiana University New Music Ensemble w/ Connor Lidell (bar) & David Dzubay (cond)
Pansori is aurally transmitted epic tradition of my native South Korea from the 17th century. Pansori works are usually 3-9 hours long and performed by only one vocalist (called sorikkun) and one barrel drum (called buk) player (called gosu). The singers tell the stories with singing arias in a highly stylistic manner from memory. As demanding this tradition is for the performers, it is entertaining for the audience, which is why it was loved by a wide range of people – from the lower class to the king until early 20th century.
Lotus Voice (2015) is a 11-minute lecture concert about Pansori with 4 excerpts that are transcribed, translated (except one), and arranged for Baritone and 14 players. Not only the excerpts but also the ‘lecture part’ incorporates musical features of Pansori tradition (i.e. vocal techniques and rhythmic patterns), making this piece a Pansori about Pansori.
One of the interesting facts about this tradition is that the singers strive for a very scratchy or damaged voice. It is because such a voice is believed to be proper to deliver the emotions powerfully, especially the sorrow (called hahn), one of the most significant and artful feelings. Many Pansori singers, therefore, intentionally hurt their voices, or in more extreme cases, other parts of their body like eyes, to fully embrace the sorrow of life.
This masochistic pursuit of artistry or beauty, reminded me of Lotus Feet – an ancient Chinese custom to bind the feet of young girls to prevent them from growing, as regarded beautiful (the lotus symbolizes purity of mind and body in Buddhism), from which the title of this piece is derived. Soon, however, I realized how common for us it is actually, to go through various pain, even voluntarily, to achieve a deeper level of mastery.
Note: the performance will be accompanied by a slide-show, and a short portion of an introductory YouTube video clip about Pansori (http://youtu.be/YfGT-mN6ngw) will be played before the piece begins.