Embassy of the Republic of Korea to the Kingdom of Belgium and the European Union and Permanent Mission to the North Atlantic Treaty Organization

Friday 26th September 2014 at 7 pm in the Korean Cultural Center

Free admission, reservation required: tel. 02 274 2980, info@kccbrussels.be

The Pocheon Municipal Folk Art Company was founded in 2003 in Pocheon, a charming town in a very mountainous region northeast from Seoul. The town is seen as a center for Korean traditional culture. Therefore, the Pocheon Municipal Folk Art Company unites all traditional performing arts: music, dance, and performance.

In 2012, the Pocheon municipal Folk Art Company was chosen to organize the closing ceremony of the festive year for the 20th anniversary of international relations between China and Korea. In 2014, the group decided to reinforce its relations with other countries, and travelled around the world with performances in countries such as Russia, China, Spain, the UK, France, and also Belgium. On 26th September 2014, the company will come to the Korean Cultural Center of Brussels with the show ‘New Arirang’, consisting of the following parts:

1. Binari & Pangut - Chukwongosa Binari 15’

Binari is a ritual performance wishing for peace and abundance for family and country. During the performance, PMFAC will pray for the audience’s wellbeing and happiness. Binari will be followed by a traditional percussion quartet, Pangut, to create a more festive atmosphere.

2. Arirang (Gayageum Solo) 7’

Arirang is a Korean folk song, often considered as an unofficial national anthem of Korea.

PMFAC presents a new version of Arirang which is specially arranged for a Gayageum with 25 strings, composed by KIM Gyeok.

3. Jinsoe Chum (dance) 7’

Jinseo chum is a traditional dance, performed with Jinseo jangdan of Gyeonggido dodanggut. Even though this virile dance is traditionally performed by male dancers only, it also has a great softness.

4. Whowoneul… (Extract from Pansori Shimcheongga) 7’

Pansori is a narrative singing genre, performed by one Sorikkun, the vocalist, and one Gosu, the drummer, playing a barrel drum called Soribuk. Shimcheongga is the most tragic one of the five surviving classic Pansori stories. The story is about a girl named Simcheong and her blind father, SHIM Bongsa. Shimcheong believes that her father will regain his eyesight by sacrificing herself in the sea to the king of the sea.

5. Whajeopjimong 7’

Whajeopjimong is a composite performance consisting of song, music, dance, and poetry. The music ‘Gayasong’ is composed by famous Korean composer PARK Beomhoon and the elegant dance shows a flower or a butterfly, moving along with the melodious tunes.

6. Yeonjeong (Piri Solo) 3’30

Yeonjeong is about love and longing for a lover. The lyrical and serene melody of the piri flute represents the deep sorrow that can be caused by love.

7. Soriyouhee 12’

The harmony of traditional percussion instruments (Janggu, Buk, Kkwaenggwari, Jing) with the melody of the Taepyeongso and Gayageum excites the audience from start to end.