The Korean Singer of Tales (Harvard-Yenching Institute Monograph Series) - Softcover

Pihl, Marshall R.

Softcover

ISBN 10: 0674012747 ISBN 13: 9780674012745

Publisher: Harvard University Asia Center, 2003

Synopsis

P'ansori, the traditional oral narrative of Korea, is sung by a highly trained soloist to the accompaniment of complex drumming. The singer both narrates the story and dramatizes all the characters, male and female. Performances require as long as six hours and make extraordinary vocal demands. In the first book-length treatment in English of this remarkable art form, Pihl traces the history of p'ansori from its roots in shamanism and folktales through its nineteenth-century heyday under highly acclaimed masters and discusses its evolution in the twentieth century. After examining the place of p'ansori in popular entertainment and its textual tradition, he analyzes the nature of texts in the repertoire and explains the vocal and rhythmic techniques required to perform them.

Pihl's superb translation of the alternately touching and comic "Song of Shim Ch'ong"--the first annotated English translation of a full p'ansori performance text--illustrates the emotional range, narrative variety, and technical complexity of p'ansori literature. The Korean Singer of Tales will interest not only Korean specialists, but also students of comparative literature, folklore, anthropology, and music.

About this title

About the Author:

Marshall R. Pihl was Professor of Korean Literature at the University of Hawai‘i at Mānoa.

Review:

“This book is a welcome addition to the slowly growing number of monographs on Korean culture. "P'ansori," a form of Korean vocal narrative, is an ancient tradition which has received considerable attention recently this book is an excellent monograph on an aspect of Korean musical culture and is to be recommended to anyone who is interested in East Asian culture and music.”―James H. Grayson, Asian Affairs

About this edition

• Publisher: Harvard University Asia Center
• Publication date: 2003
• ISBN 10: 0674012747
• ISBN 13: 9780674012745
• Binding: Paperback
• Number of pages: 307