한국국제교류재단

A significant musical exchange event, which was designed to enhance the understanding and bonds of friendship between the peoples of Korea and Japan, was held in Korea and Japan recently, amid the heightened fervor over the 2002 FIFA World Cup finals.

Under the "Concert of Korean & Japanese Court Music," court musical troupes of both countries visited each other's country for joint performances. This musical exchange was jointly sponsored by the Korea Foundation and the National Center for Korean Traditional Performing Arts (NCKTPA), together with the Japan Foundation and the Music Department of the Japanese Imperial Household Agency. Back in 1998, the Korea Foundation and Japan Foundation began discussions on the possibility of staging joint concerts of court musicians of their respective countries to celebrate the co-hosting of the 2002 FIFA World Cup. These notable musical performances were realized through the active support of both governments and close cooperation of the four organizations concerned.

Successful Performances in Japan

The joint concerts in Japan were held at Tokyo's National Theater of Japan (May 8-9) and Osaka's National Bunraku Theater (May 12-13). Although three of the four performances were on weekdays, the two theaters were filled to capacity. The audiences, representing the various strata of society, applauded enthusiastically at the end of each part of the repertoire. It was very noteworthy that during the first performance, when the Korean court musicians appeared onstage, there was a murmuring among the Japanese audience in appreciation of the exquisite costumes and elegant demeanor of the Korean court musicians. Jongmyo jeryeak, designated a UNESCO world cultural heritage, Cheoyongmu, Taepyeongmu, Sujecheon, were among the 10 works presented in Japan.

Emperor Akihito and Empress Michiko as well as other prominent Japanese figures including Minister of Foreign Affairs Yoriko Kawaguchi and Japan Foundation President Hiroaki Fujii, attended the first-day performance in Tokyo. The Korean dignitaries in the audience included Yun Hyeong-gyu, vice minister of Korea's culture and tourism ministry, Korean Ambassador to Japan Cho Se-hyung, Yoon Mi-yong, director of NCKTPA, Kim Yun-jin, Korea-Japan goodwill ambassador and Korea Foundation President Lee In-ho. Of particular note, the Imperial couple invited the heads of the four sponsoring organizations to the guest room of the National Theater of Japan, where the Imperial couple expressed their wishes for a successful tour along with congratulatory remarks.

First-ever Japanese Court Music Presentation in Korea

Performances in Korea were held on May 23-24 at Seoul's NCKTPA and May 27-28 at the Busan Cultural Center. Similar to the performances in Japan, a diverse range of Koreans, including First Lady Lee Hee-ho, attended the concerts to appreciate the truly unique musical performances. While traditional Japanese drama, such as kabuki and bunraku, have previously been staged in Korea, this marked the first time Japanese court music was performed in Korea. Accordingly, Korea's musical circles and general public showed keen interest in the Japanese court musicians. The Music Department of the Japanese Imperial Household Agency, which performed in Korea, is a troupe that ordinarily performs court music exclusively for the Imperial Palace and boasts a history of 1,500 years. As such, it was indeed a rare opportunity for Korean audiences to appreciate firsthand the distinctive features of Japanese court music.

The existence of the Music Department of the Japanese Imperial Household Agency had not been known to the Japanese public until after Japan's defeat in World War II. Since 1956, the troupe has performed twice annually for the Japanese public within the Imperial Palace. It has performed overseas only six times to date, including its first performances abroad at the United Nations Headquarters in New York in 1956. All 25 members of the troupe have been designated as human natural treasures. Their musical talent has been handed down from generation to generation by their descendants. When they perform overseas, the members board different flights as a safety precaution. As such, the fact that all 25 troupe members performed together in Korea underscored the significance of their performances here.

The Japanese musicians played nine works, including classical song and dance and songs as orchestral music. In particular, Nasori is a mask dance staged by two persons to the accompaniment of Komagaku, which is based on music that originated from Korea's ancient kingdoms-Goguryeo, Baekje and Silla. It was thus an ideal opportunity for Korean audiences to get a different glimpse of Korean-inspired music.

As such, these performances enabled both Japanese and Korean audiences to appreciate and compare the musical legacies of their two countries. Professor Kwon Oh-sung of Hanyang University of Korea, along with Yoshihiko Tokumaru, professor of Ochanomizu University of Japan, and other music experts, introduced the traditional musical instruments from their countries and explained the differences in melody and rhythm between Korean and Japanese court music.

The court music genre is relatively unfamiliar to most Koreans. Since it is devoid of animated movement, the audience sometimes gets restless. But Korean court music is rooted in the yeak sasang priciples of Confucianism, for which music is central to self-enlightenment and moral integrity. In court music, emotional restraint and decorum take precedence over explicit of emotion. Nevertheless, court music exhibits such noteworthy characteristics as the elegance of self-control, propriety and lofty spirits. As such, the performances enabled music lovers to delve into the spirit and soul of Korea and Japan through the regal court music of the two countries.

Korea and Japan have actively engaged in a variety of personnel and cultural exchanges under the Year of Korea-Japan National Exchange, as designated by both governments, in commemoration of the 2002 FIFA World Cup Korea/Japan. It is hoped that the successful Concert of Korean & Japanese Court Music contributes to further exchanges of traditional music and culture between both neighboring countries and a genuine enhancement of understanding and friendship of their people.