AK03: Traditional Korean music medium to promote peace

By RENEE KIRIONA

A leading Korean musician has asked Aucklanders to open their minds and let their spirits float when listening to his music.

Byung-ki Hwang is a famous composer, performer and scholar of Korean traditional music.

As part of the Auckland Festival he made his debut New Zealand performance last night and will deliver one last show tonight at St Matthew in the City.

Specialising in the gayageum, a 12-string instrument, Mr Hwang described traditional Korean music as "one of the most peaceful forms of music in the world".

"People must open their mind to the music," he said.

"I know it's new here but I am hoping the audience will appreciate it."

His music is a mixture of Korean folk, court and modern themes.

Mr Hwang, who is from Seoul, has received numerous musical awards in his homeland.

He has taken the gayageum instrument, which is thousands of years old, into the modern world with compositions that break new ground. Mr Hwang, who spent a year lecturing in music at Harvard University, has produced eight albums.

The 67-year-old became interested in traditional Korean music as a child refugee during the Korean War.

"At primary school all we learnt was western music so when I heard an elderly man playing the same instrument that I do I became fascinated."

Over the years he has used his music as a medium to advocate peace between North and South Korea.

"The preservation and promotion of traditional and national music in Korea is an important part of the healing process," he said.

His show, The Gayageum, is broken into two parts - traditional and contemporary.

Running for 2 1/2 hours, he promised "an intoxicating musical experience" for the audience.

Four emerging Korean musicians will perform with him.

Asked what he thought about New Zealand music, Mr Hwang said almost every Korean knew the song Pokarekareana.

"They think it is one of theirs."

Herald Feature: Auckland Festival AK03

Auckland Festival website