Young Thais have taken Korean popular culture to their hearts in recent years. Tomorrow, a string of traditional Korean performances will be staged at the Korean Cultural Center to showcase another side of the country's cultural traditions.
Called "Taste Of Gugak", the show is part of "A Dialogue Between The Past And The Present Of Korean Music", a project initiated by the National Gugak Center, a national organisation devoted to the preservation and promotion of Korea's traditional performing arts.
Headquartered in Seoul, the NGC has brought together a troupe of performers to help introduce the country's traditional performing arts all over the world. To celebrate the 60th anniversary of Korea-Thailand diplomatic relations, the centre will delight its Thai audience with a one-hour showcase of dance and music in various genres.
Starting at 6.30pm, the programme is comprised of six sessions of different performances, including court music, traditional dance involving romantic sensitivity, musical storytelling, instrumental solos, percussion ensembles and popular folk music.
The evening will kick off with the classical song Cheonnyeon Manse (Live For A Thousand Years). The suite is comprised of three movements: gyemyeongarak dodeuri, yangcheong dodeuri and ujogarak.
It is followed by taepyungmu, a unique form of folk dance performed by a king or queen in prayer for the prosperity of the royal household and a peaceful reign of peace; and Sarangga, a love song about a humble girl and the son of an aristocrat from the famous Korean opera Chunhyangga.
The programme will also feature Gayageum Sanjo, a suite for solo performance on a traditional Korean zither-like string instrument, accompanied by the Korean drum janggu. The song expresses various emotions through different rhythmic cycles.
Then a percussion ensemble will take to the stage to perform Samdo Nongak on four instruments: gwaengwari (small brass gong), janggu (hourglass drum), buk (barrel drum) and jing (medium-sized gong).
The evening will conclude with Arirang Medley. A popular folk song often considered the unofficial national anthem of Korea, Arirang was included on the Unesco Intangible Cultural Heritage list in 2012.
There is no admission fee to the show. The Korean Cultural Center is located between Sukhumvit 15 and 17. Call 02-651-0165.
