Gayageum - Sound of Korea

Jung-Hee Oh, the Gayageum artist Ms. Junghee Oh is a Korean folk music artist in ‘Gayageum Byung-chang’ (singing with self-accompaniment of the Gayageum instrument) and ‘Pansori’ (a traditional story-telling performed by a solo vocalist accompanied by a rummer). [website: www.ohgayageum.org] She has been recognized and certified as the Korean government cultural ministry’s intangible cultural property No. 23 in Gayageum with song and ‘Sanjo.’ She had performed at a number of prestige international and domestic performing stages and musical venues. She is currently the music director and teaching artist at the Korean Performing Arts Center at Manhattan, New York, and actively gives personal Gayageum lessons in New England area. What is Gayageum? The gayageum is the most well-known Korean traditional zither, and it has 12 silk strings supported by 12 moveable bridges. Traditionally, it is made of pawlonia wood and consists of strings stretched over moveable frets. It was developed around the 6th century. Gayageum use silk strings that produce clear and beautiful sound. For a comparison, a closest western musical instrument is harp. What is Gayageum Byungchang? Gayageum Byungchang is a form of duet for voice and Gayageum. This genre is known to stem from the practice of masters of the Gayageum who are also adept at Pansori. In Gayageum Byungchang , the Gayageum used as a geartbeat, to regulate and punctuate the rhythm of a song, like a drum, and emphasizes. The instrument marks the beginning and the end of the rhythmic cycles by filling the place of voice during interludes. A brief intro to Gayageum Sanjo: Its origin is in the music of the Korean indigenous shaman culture that is filled with Korean spirit and sentiment. Koreans strongly identify with this music which grew to be the greatest of the 19th century. This genre adopted elements and stylistic features from the court and folk music traditions, and has come to reflect a “Pan-musical” style that is quintessentially Korean. As solo instrumental music, Sanjo offers many opportunities for dazzling virtuosic display in the course of its multi-movement form. The soloist interacts with rhythmic accompaniment given by the Janggo, the traditional hourglass shaped double-headed drum. Sanjo shares the international stage with the American Jazz/blues tradition, and modal systems such as Indian raga and Turkish Maqam. Here are few sample musical performances that Junghee had performed: (A full CV may be provided upon a request) • ‘Sound of Korea’ The Kennedy Center, Washington D.C (2014) • ‘Sound of Korea’ Library of Congress, Washington D.C (2014) • Celebrate KOREA “Sounds of korea” Korean Family and Community Celebration, Great Stair Hall at Philadelphia Museum of Art, Philadelphia, PA (2014) • Heritage Sunday event at Lincoln Center, “The S(e)oul of Korea” , Lincoln Center, NY (2013) • The 18th Annual Concert “Spirits, Nature and Heaven”, Symphony Space, Manhattan, NY (2012) • 9.11 Memorial Music Concert, Manhattan, New York (2011) • Korean Folk Arts Day, Pelham Art Center, New York (2009) • Lunar New Year Festival, Queens Library, Manhattan, New York (2009) • Jaesook Moon Gayageum Recital – Carnegie Hall, NYC (2009) • 2009 Asian/Pacific American Heritage Festival, NYC, NY (2009) • Parting on Z: Virtual Interactive Puppetry + Pansori Chelsea Art Museum, NYC (2009) • “Protuberance” 2008 D.U.M.B.O. Art under the bridge festival, NYC, NY, September (2008) • The Korea Society, “Singing with 12 strings” Solo concert, Manhattan, New York, September (2008)