Sunday, March 4, 2012

Korean music (Gugak) is threatened

The development of Gugak was unnaturally interrupted by the japanese occupation in the first half of the 20th century. What remained after the liberation was further decimated under several dictatorships and the influence of the western culture. Music that survived all this tortures is the status quo of the repertoire of Gugak and that is really small compared to western music.  Korea is a small country with limited possibilities for concerts and korean musicians told me that it is almost  impossible to live as freelance musician of Gukak.
A few stars are playing or singing the same pieces over and over again - no chance to get in for the younger generation. Playing always the same pieces destroys that music -  a perfect thing degenerates. Gugak needs more (good!) music in the tradition of Gugak. Not western new music and please no "fusion". Gukak needs a wider market, Gugak has to come out of Korea.
That is the only chance that the original music will survive.