Jangdan: Conversation of the Breath

Presented by National Sawdust in partnership with the Korean Cultural Center New York

Thursday, February 11, 2021, 6 pm
Online Streaming on the KCCNY YouTube Channel
No ticket or RSVP necessary 


We are all breathing the same air, and we are all connected. 

From a theater in Seoul, percussionist Kim So Ra experiments with rhythm and movement alongside contemporary dancers Kim Young Mi and Hong Kyeong Hwa, percussionist Hyun Seung Hun, and piri (bamboo reed flute) player Hong Ji Hye for the short film Jang Dan: Breath Conversation, premiering at National Sawdust’s Digital Discovery Festival on the eve of Seollal, the Korean Lunar New Year. 

The five artists perform in harmony, weaving an intimate choreography in this immersive visual experience. Everything starts and ends with the breath.

Jang Dan: Breath Conversation is presented by National Sawdust in partnership with the Korean Cultural Center New York, and will be co-streamed on the National Sawdust website and the KCCNY's YouTube channel.

“an immersive aural tapestry that evokes the power, delicateness & ephemerality of a sudden rainstorm.” - World Music Central

“Mystical, Dynamic Rainy-Day Korean Sonic Exploration” - New York Music Daily

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▲ PROGRAM

1. Old Road 
Sometimes, we may get lonely. When we are walking, we may look around and find that there is nobody to keep us company. Then, we might take the old, long winter road and try to fill our empty hearts, even if for a moment. 

2. Joy 
13th century scholar Yi Gyu-bo once said, “Whenever I encounter the world in a state of joy, I can readily recite poetry.” 15th century scholar Jeong Geuk-in, in the lyrics of Sangchun-gok, calls the joy of the inner self becoming one with the outer world “heung.” For Kim, “heung” is the joy of unraveling the stories of the subjects that inspire her.  

3. Nomadic 
The first piece attempts to capture the calm before the storm, the wind that portends the rain. The wind wanders aimlessly and does not let up. Repetitive rhythms and patterns represent the restless wind, setting a dreamlike and mystical yet dark and ominous mood.  

4. Landscape 
What is your landscape like?  

5. Slow and Serene  
If whilst strolling in the forest we were to stop and listen, we would be able to hear abundant and endless sound. We would hear the forest breathing and bursting with life. Sometimes we may wish to take a walk, slow and serene, in the breathing of the forest, characterized by deep reverberations and negative space.  

6. Waves 
When we watch carefully, we can see that wild and turbulent waters hide beneath the gentle, rolling waves. We can feel the naturalness and familiarity of the flowing current.

7. I can go anywhere 
We forget that we can go anywhere, do anything. The landscape that lies ahead may scare us, but if we keep moving forward, maybe we will be able to find meaningful insight into our lives, our purpose.

▲ ARTISTS

Kim So Ra & Hyun Seung Hun (Percussion)
Kim Young Mi & Hong Kyeong Hwa (Dance)
Hong Ji Hye (Piri) 


Kim So Ra  

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A multi-award winning Korean traditional percussionist, composer, and ambassador of Honam Province Jeongeup folk music, Kim So Ra is one of the most skilled and prominent Janggu (Korean double-headed drum) players in Korea. Kim is known for her genre-bending performances; combining Korean traditional sounds with creative, charismatic and modern interpretations.

Kim is trained under the direct apprenticeship of human cultural asset Master Yu Jihwa. Kim has received eight 1st-place awards from major national music competitions since 2005, including National Nongak Master Competition, Gyeonggi Nongak National Competition, National Women’s Korean Traditional Music Festival, and JeonJu International Sori Festival, among others. 

Kim has performed at WOMEX 2018 and Mundial Montreal 2018 as official showcase artist and Kim’s latest album, A Sign of Rain, was nominated as the best jazz and crossover album at the 2019 Korean Music Awards.


National Sawdust

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National Sawdust connects artists and audiences to the transformative power of music through mentorship, education, and performances on its digital stage and at the Williamsburg venue. Our mission is to cultivate an ecosystem of learning, incubation, and dissemination rooted in open and inclusive music curiosity and driven by the belief that artistic expression empowers us all to create a more just world. NS’ core programs prioritize mentorship, education, and professional development for early and mid-career composers.
(https://live.nationalsawdust.org)

 
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