The Korea Herald

지나쌤

Traditional sounds to fill autumn in Jeonju

By Kim Hae-yeon

Published : Nov. 8, 2022 - 14:28

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Poster for Poster for "Myeongin Homage" (NIHC)

A series of traditional Korean music performances will take place every Saturday until Nov. 26 at the National Intangible Heritage Center's Grand Performance Stage in Jeonju, North Jeolla Province.

Titled "Myeongin Homage," the performance series is being held to commemorate the 100th anniversary of the master musicians who dedicated their lives to Korean traditional sounds.

Each master's successor will perform some of the best known pieces, while talks between performances will focus on the masters' lives, recounting the hardships they faced while pursuing traditional Korean arts.

The first of the series is a performance honoring Lee Eun-ju, a Gyeonggi minyo master, on Saturday, from 4 p.m. to 5:30 p.m.

Born in 1922 in Yangju, Gyeonggi Province, Lee was one of the first-generation master singers of Gyeonggi minyo, or folk songs of the region.

Following her debut in 1939 on a radio music show, she performed various genres of traditional Korean music, and in 1975 Lee was designated master of Intangible Cultural Heritage No. 57, for her achievements in Gyeonggi minyo.

Lee recorded more than 380 Gyeonggi minyo albums and performed on numerous stages abroad.

Video clips of Lee's interviews and performances will be shown Saturday, while original LP records will also be available for listening at the center.

Gyeonggi minyo master Lee Eun-ju performs in an archival film in 2008. (NIHC) Gyeonggi minyo master Lee Eun-ju performs in an archival film in 2008. (NIHC)

A performance honoring Kim Seok-chul, master of Donghaean byeolsingut, will take place on Nov. 19, followed by a performance highlighting pansori master Park Bong-sul on Nov. 26.

Admission is open to those 8 and older and is free. Reservations can be made via NIHC's website on a first-come first-served basis.

All performances are scheduled to be livestreamed on Naver TV.