Korean Fusion - Modern Pansori Music

 

https://youtu.be/SmTRaSg2fTQ

https://youtu.be/3QweGkhFRUo

When I first arrived in Seoul, South Korea, in July 2018, I attended a workshop about "Pansori singing". A petite young woman led the workshop. Looking at her I expected to hear a high pitched voice. Instead, when she began to sing a booming low pitched voice burst forth from her mouth expressing sounds and words with explicit passion. I had no idea what she was saying and was totally shocked by the quality of her voice but the passion and drama of what I was watching came through loud and clear. It was impressive and I was totally impressed. I LOVED IT. 

Here is a wiki about Pansori Singing: https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Pansori (excerpt below)

Pansori (Korean: 판소리) is a Korean genre of musical storytelling performed by a singer and a drummer.

In music, Gugwangdae describes a long story that takes about three hours for short and six hours for a long time. It is one of the traditional Korean music that mixes body movements and sings to the accompaniment of buk by gosu.

Originally a form of folk entertainment for the lower classes, pansori was embraced by the Korean elite during the 19th century. While public interest in the genre declined in the mid-20th century, today, the South Korean government considers many pansori singers to be "living national treasures."^[1][2] In 2003, UNESCO recognized pansori as a Masterpiece of the Oral and Intangible Heritage of Humanity.^[3]

Here is a video of traditional Pansori: 

https://youtu.be/8Kt7YdXsWzg

One more: 

https://youtu.be/p6egKWHMpLc

 Finally a full traditional performance: 

https://youtu.be/ZU0mewGnTQQ

I don't know about you but I find this musical style extremely enchanting. 

Go have a look and listen!!