12 gasa to be performed at UNESCO World Heritage Site 'Byeongsan Seowon'

▲ This photo, provided by the Cultural Heritage Administration, shows Andong Byeongsan Seowon. (PHOTO NOT FOR SALE) (Yonhap)

SEOUL, Apr. 28 (Yonhap) -- At Byeongsan Seowon, a UNESCO World Heritage site, a performance by Lee Jun-ah (62), the owner of the National Intangible Cultural Heritage, Gasa (Korean traditional vocal music) will be held.

According to Andong city, Gyeongbuk on the 28th, this event, which will be held at 3 p.m. on the 30th, is sponsored by the Cultural Heritage Administration National Intangible Heritage Center and Korea Cultural Heritage Foundation.

Gasa is a long private orthodox vocal music that was enjoyed by the intellectual class in the late Joseon Dynasty, and was designated as a National Intangible Cultural Heritage No. 41 in 1971.

Particularly, the 12 songs that have been passed down to this day have been designated and preserved as the subjects of National Intangible Cultural Heritage that has to be urgently protected. 

There are 12 songs, including Baekgusa(Song of the Seagull), Jukjisa (Song of Bamboo Branches), Hwanggyesa (Song of the Yellow Rooster), Eobusa (Fisherman's Song), Chunmyeonggok (Song of Spring Sleep), Sangsabyeolgok (Song of Longing), Gilgunak(Marching Song), Gweonjuga (Drinking Song), Suyangsanga (Song of Mt. Shouyang). Cheosaga (Song of the Retired Scholar), Yangyangga (Song of Yangyang), and Maehwaga (Song of Plum Blossoms).

In the performance, Lee Jun-ah and 25 other performers will not only present the 12 gasa, but will also be presenting other performances including daegum (Large bamboo flute used in traditional Korean music), gayaguem (traditional Korean plucked zither with 12 strings), piri (Korean double reed instrument), geomungo (traditional Korean plucked zither with both bridges and frests), haeguem (traditional Korean string instrument, resembling a vertical fiddle with two strings), janggu (most representative drum in traditional Korean music) and court dance.

Byeongsan Seowon, where the performance is being held, was designated as a UNESCO World Heritage Site in the July of 2019 as a place to honor Seoae Ryu Seong-ryong and his son, Suam Ryujin.

Along with the Nakdong River, Byeongsan Mountain creates a beautiful scenery that looks like a folding screen, making it a popular tourist destination along the Andong Hahoe Folk Village.

"Anyone will be able to attend for free," an official from Andong city said. "I think it is worth looking forward as it will have music that harmonizes with the superb view of the Byeongsan Seowon."

(This article is translated from Korean to English by Haemin Kim.)

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