'Gugak' orchestra festival to showcase Korea's musical roots

From music by BTS, BLACKPINK and Seventeen to the soundtrack of the animated hit "KPop Demon Hunters," Korean pop music is heard everywhere. But for those curious about the roots of it — and Korean music more broadly — the upcoming Korea Traditional Orchestra Music Festival will offer a chance to explore. Running from Oct. 15 to 25 at the Sejong Center for the Performing Arts in central Seoul, the festival will feature performances by 10 gugak, or traditional Korean music, orchestras from across the country. “In the past two editions, we’ve seen growing interest and support for gugak among the public. This year, the popularity of 'KPop Demon Hunters' is a big boost,” Ahn Ho-sang, CEO of Sejong Center, said during a press conference in Seoul, Thursday. Gugak encompasses a wide range of traditions: music once enjoyed by the royals and aristocrats of the 1392-1910 Joseon Dynasty; folk genres such as pansori (musical storytelling) and sanjo (solo instrumental music); court music and dance; and ritual music tied to Buddhism and shamanistic practices such as salpuri. Reflecting on thWeiter zum vollständigen Artikel bei Korea Times Weiter zum vollständigen Artikel bei Korea Times