EAI

Biography of Soo-Kwan Park
Began his study of singing in his childhood after being fascinated by the beauty of the Korean folk tunes such as Sangyosori(Chants for the funeral parades), Gaksori-Taryong(Song of beggars which has been sung as they were begging), ets. Soo-Kwan was the Grand-Prix winner of the Sangju Traditional Singing competition, the Namdo Folk Song Centest and was the laureate of the Presidential Prize in 1999 Mr. Park is a faculty member of the Military Academy of R.O.Korea and is Professor Emeritus of the Glinka State Conservatory of Novosibirsk, Russia, where he received and Bonorable Doctorate in Musicology. Dr. Park has brought his performances of Korean folk music to Japan, Germany, Italy, and the USA as well as throughtout his native country, Korea. Since his Carnegie Hall debut in 2000, Dr. Park performed on the stage of Lincoln Center's Alice Tully Hall as the featured soloist of the World Food Day Concert, Oct. 18th, 2001 and "Sound of Korea" at Kennedy Center. Recently Dr. Park made his solo appearance at the Vigil Ceremony for closing 2002 World Cup, Yokohama, Japan. Among the books he wrote or translated are Mr. Park's Tune X; Melodies sung by Korean I, II; Survey on the Music of Korea, China and Musical Travel through Southern China, Taiwan, and Okinawa. He also presented several theses about Korean Traditional Music at the International Symposium held by UNESCO.
Main program of Sound of Korea
EASTERN KOREAN FOLK SONG Eastern Korean Flok Song has been sung mainly in the Eastern side of the Taeback Mountains, i.e. Ham gyeong Province, Gangweon Province, and Gyeongsang Province. The songs popular in these areas have common musical characteristics and also have its own peculiar musical scale which is call menarijo. Most popular folk songs in Gyeongsang Province include Milyang Arirang, Chiiya Chingchingnane, Boritajaksori, Twejeontaryeong and Dambaquitaryeong, Gangweon Province's folk songs include Jeongseon Arirang, Gangweon Arirang, and Hanobeknyeon which is popular while Hamgyeong Province's songs include Singosantaryeong, Goongchodaenggi, and Aeweonseong. Southern folk songs have yookjabegi scale and Eastern folk songs have menarijo scale. Both scales are the same 'Mi' scale, But the expressions are completely different from each other because of the different styles of making tones. Gyeongsang Province's songs are noted for their joyfulness and buoyancy because of it's quick tempo. However, lamentation and entreaty is contained in those songs of Gangweon Province and Gyeongsang Province. Differences can be seen within the same Eastern Korean Folk Songs, depending on vocalization, tone, and scale. SINAWI, GROUP PLAY Sinawi was originally music meant for the spirits. The performance is quite similar to that of Western Jass as it is free to improvisation. The following instruments: piri, daeguem, haegeum, ajaeng, gayageum, jing and janggo often form the sinawi ensemble. SALPURI, DANCE This dance was originally developed as the ritual music of shaman to be used in the prevention of bad luck or in the comforting of past souls to lead them to paradise. In modern times it has evolved into the one of the main traditional forms of Korean dance. GAKSORITARYONG, BEGGARS GROUP SONG Beggars would go in groups to celebrations and sing songs of joy in exchange for food and money sang these songs. SANGYO SORI, FUNERAL SONG Sangyo was a funeral hand carriage which contained the coffin and sori means song. Usually the sori leader led the funeral progression by singing sangyo sori. The mourners and sangyo carriers would sing the refrain.