Korean traditional music to add to carnival ambience |03 April 2014
Korean traditional music is expected to add vibrancy to this year’s Carnaval International de Victoria
Korean traditional music is expected to add vibrancy to this year’s Carnaval International de Victoria later this month.
This follows the confirmation by NONI, a group of young artists from various artistic fields, of their involvement in this year’s April 25-26 event.
The Korean carnival team will perform Samul nori (Korean traditional percussion music).
Julie Kim, the Seychelles Tourism Board (STB) manager in Seoul, Korea has received confirmation that the Samul nori delegation will be representing South Korea in the upcoming Carnaval International de Victoria which is this year being jointly co-hosted by Seychelles, Reunion, Madagascar, Mayotte and South Africa’s KwaZulu Natal.
Samul nori percussion consists of four Korean traditional musical instruments, namely kkwaenggwari (a small gong), jing (a larger gong), janggu (an hourglass-shaped drum), and buk (a barrel drum similar to the bass drum). Each of the four instruments stands for a different weather condition: the kkwaenggwari represents thunder, the jing the sounds of the wind, the janggu rain, and the buk clouds. The idea of yin and yang is also reflected in these instruments: two leather instruments (the buk and janggu) represent the sounds of the earth, while the metal ones – jing and kkwaenggwari – represent sounds of the heavens.
During the opening ceremony of the Carnaval International de Victoria, the South Koreans are expected to showcase the genuine Samul nori which has its roots in farmer’s music (nong-ak), celebrating harvest times. It also stems from the shamanistic tradition. The rhythm reflects the joy, anger, sorrow and happiness as the tempo alters. During the main carnival procession, the South Korean delegation will be parading through the center of Victoria with their percussion sound widely spreading the feeling of joy. The carnival float will be decorated with Korean traditional lamps and architecture and filled with a team dressed in Korean traditional costume ‘hanbok’.
"The excitement of the Samul nori will fascinate the spectators," a representative of the South Korean delegation travelling to Seychelles said.
The performance team has taken part in various international cultural events and carnivals in China, Macao, and the United States to name a few, and have won 8 awards in Korea and overseas (see accompanying Award History).
Award History
2013 Republic of Korea, Selection at PAMS Choice 2013
2012 Republic of Korea, Seoul Namsan Traditional Theatre, Selection at
Musical Play Festival Contest
2011 Republic of Korea, Creative Traditional Play Contest, Grand prize
winner (Prize title: Minister of Culture-Sports’ Prize)
2010 Republic of Korea, Gangneung Kwanno Mask Theatre, Modern
Reinterpretation Contest winner
2009 China, Shanghai International Puppet Festival, Golden Magnolia
Art Innovation award winner,
Composition award winner, Performance award winner
Republic of Korea, 'Jeju Delphic World Conference', Golden
medal in Shadow Play Sector(Award of unusual achievement
in the production or presentation of clearly defined
artistic disciplines for SHADOW PLAY)
2008 Republic of Korea, 'Korea Traditional Arts Festival', Creative
Contest Winner
2006 Republic of Korea, Selection at PAMS Choice 2006