Korean P'ansori Singing Tradition: Development, Authenticity, and Performance History

by Yeonok Jang

Overview

In 2003, the Korean singing tradition of p’ansori joined the Representative List of the Intangible Cultural Heritage of Humanity, a distinctive honor bestowed by the United Nations Educational, Scientific, and Cultural Organization. P’ansori is a music genre—an oral tradition comprising arias and narratives. Often the individual singer acts out the story of young and old, good and bad, and male and female. In Korean P’ansori Singing Tradition: Development, Authenticity, and Performance History, Yeonok Jang studies the periodical developments and changes in the performance context, vocal developments, singing style, audience involvement, contemporary performance, cinematic history, and private and government sponsorship of p’ansori.

Covering the period from the early development of p’ansori, including the origins and early formation of the genre, to contemporary performance, Jang surveys this remarkable genre of storytelling, song, theater, and performance. Throughout, she considers not only issues of historical context but also questions of cultural identity, past and present. Researchers in the fields of Korean studies, folk music, oral history, ethnic music, narrative and theatrical music, and cultural studies will find this work of significant value.

Product Details

ISBN-13:	9780810884618
Publisher:	Rowman & Littlefield Publishers, Inc.
Publication date:	11/26/2013
Pages:	312
Product dimensions:	6.20(w) x 9.10(h) x 1.20(d)

About the Author

Yeonok Jang holds a doctorate in ethnomusicology from the School of Oriental and African Studies in the University of London. She is an independent scholar who has taught courses on Korean music, Korean culture, world music culture, and Korean music performance at a variety of universities in Korea and the United Kingdom. She is a professional player of the kayagum, the twelve-string Korean zither, and an amateur p’ansori singer.

Table of Contents

List of Figures vii

List of Tables ix

Preface xi

Introduction xv

Part 1 Development 1

Chapter 1 Development of P'ansori 5

Chapter 2 Early P'ansori 45

Part 2 From Sarangbang to Theater 63

Chapter 3 Elite Audiences: P'ansori in the Nineteenth Century 65

Chapter 4 Modern Practice: Changes in the Twentieth Century 97

Part 3 Cultural Identity 139

Chapter 5 Contemporary Performance: 1970s to the Present 143

Chapter 6 A Comparative Study 183

Postscript 237

Appendix: List of Principle Performers and Interviewees 233

Bibliography 237

Discography 265

Index 267

About the Author 287