Looking for Korea’s Traditional "Sounds"

A female shaman`s exorcism, traditional singing and dancing girl`s song, echoic words expressing traditional musical instruments` sounds, piping sound…

These traditional sounds, which have been handed down through a number of generations, are disappearing nowadays. However, these sounds including sounds in exorcism conducted in a village with apricot blossoms and exorcism at the coast with high waves breaking cannot be put into a musical note.

On HDTV’s "Sounds," a documentary series consisting of five episodes, which will be on from March 5, you can listen to fresh sounds from Korea’s traditional musical performances. This series was produced to celebrate the 30th anniversary of Korea Broadcasting Advertising Corporation.

On March 5, you can meet Chae Jung-rye, 78, who is the only female shaman who can perform exorcism dance to pray for the dead passing away peacefully. Her exorcism dance is assisted with her husband’s playing the gong and her nephew’s drum shaped like an hourglass. During the dance, which is originally for the dead, she also appeases the live people. Jindo, South Cheolla Province, is famous for this exorcism dance. Among the three famous singers in Jindo, Cho Gong-rye already passed away and Kim Dae-rye is out of voice. So, Chae Jung-rye is the only traditional singer in Jindo, now. On March 6, Junggoje, one kind of Pansori, is introduced. This song is recited by Shim Hwa-young, 90, who was designated as an intangible cultural asset of South Chungcheong Province as late as January 2000. In an interview, however, he said, "You should have come earlier."

On March 7, Han Seung-ho, 80, the only famous singer of Seopyeonje is introduced. He spent his entire life in doing vocal exercise around falls or in caves for better sound. When you listen to his continuously changing voice in the dramatic song, "Chokpyokka," it feels like that the Chokpyok River, a river located in China, is ablaze. On March 13 you can meet Kim Soo-ak, a master of Korea`s traditional dance music. There is a saying that when hearing his echoic words expressing musical instruments, even a flail in the barn dances to his tune. On March 14, you can learn the life and art of Chung Young-man, the only pipe players who inherited Sinawi of Tongyong, South Gyeongsang Province. Sinawi is one of Korea’s traditional folk music genres.

Seung-Hoon Cheon raphy@donga.com