[News Culture] The sounds of Korea’s regional folk traditions come together for a midsummer concert spanning mountains, fields, rivers and seas.
KBS1’s ‘Gugak Hanmadang’ will air its ‘Summer Songs from Across Korea’ special on Aug. 8. The program brings together folk music shaped by distinct landscapes and communities, revealing how widely styles can vary from one region to another.
The journey begins in Gangwon Province with Go Geum-seong, a singer from the region. Drawing on Gangwon’s signature menari melodic tradition, Go delivers songs known for their unadorned melodies and resonant vocal power.
Gyeonggi folk music follows with Choi Su-an, Kim Seo-ha, Lee Woo-seung and Kim Yeon-seo, all certified practitioners of the nationally recognized tradition. Their performance highlights the refined phrasing, fluid melodies and delicate vocal color associated with the region.
The ensemble Sorihwa then turns to seodo sori, the folk singing tradition rooted in what are now North Korea’s Pyongan and Hwanghae provinces. Members Lee Na-ra, Jang Hyo-seon, Kim Yu-ri and Ryu Ji-seon evoke the distinctive musical character of Korea’s northwestern region.
Singers Shin Yu-jin, Jung Eun-song and Lee Jin-ju carry the program south with folk songs from the southern provinces and Jeju Island. Their stage brings out the contrasting rhythms, accents and emotions that developed across the two regions.
Certified gagok singer Ha Yun-ju adds a different shade to the concert with a song inspired by mosi, the lightweight ramie fabric traditionally worn during Korea’s hot summers. Through its cool, delicate texture, Ha unfolds a story of a woman’s life and love, pairing the imagery with the stately elegance of traditional Korean lyric song.
With folk music and classical vocal traditions sharing one stage, the special offers an aural portrait of Korea’s varied regional landscapes and a brief escape from the midsummer heat.
‘Gugak Hanmadang: Summer Songs from Across Korea’ airs Aug. 8 at 12:10 p.m. on KBS1.
Reported by News Culture M.J._mj94070777@nc.press
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