Korean Cultural Center New York presents Baraji: Beasohn Korean mystical folkloric performance infuses drama with music
Korean Cultural Center New York presents
Baraji: Beasohn
Korean mystical folkloric performance infuses drama with music
Saturday, April 8t h 2017 at 9 pm BAMcafé Lepercq Space
(30 Lafayette Avenue, Brooklyn, NY 11217)
Tickets: FREE (Limited unreserved seating and standing room available)
New York, NY - Korean Cultural Center New York, a branch of the Ministry of Culture, Sports and Tourism (MCST) of the Republic of Korea, is pleased to present Baraji: Beasohn at BAMcafé Lepercq Space at 30 Lafayette Avenue in Brooklyn, New York on Saturday, April 8th, 2017 at 9 pm for their US Premiere .
THE BARAJI performance group, while preserving the folkloric forms of both Korean music and dance, is known for their exceptional improvisation and spontaneity of their performances.
Baraji is a pure Korean word that refers to the heartfelt care given to a person through unconditional support. In traditional music, baraji a lso refers to the impromptu singing by accompanists that adds harmony to the lead vocal and enhances the colors of the music. The key characteristics of baraji is epitomized in Jindo Ssitgim Gut, a traditional shamanistic purging ritual for the dead and a prayer for peaceful rest through song and dance.
THE BARAJI music group was born to pay homage to and to share the beauty of baraji with the world through music. It strives to identify powerful elements for interaction with audiences in various genres of traditional music including vocal, percussion, instrumental, and theatrical music. By polishing and reconstructing these elements, Baraji hopes to contribute to making the world a better, more musical place to live in through its performances.
“Baraji’s performance centered on an intense and dramatic shamanistic purging ritual for the dead with singing and dancing uniting with prayers that the beloved deceased truly rest in peace. All of this took us - the living - to a beautiful and meditative state”
- Wall Street International
BEASOHN Program Notes (link) + About the Program
Ssitgim Sinawi, Instrumental Ensemble for the Departed Beasohn, Song of Prayer
Saeng!sagorak, Four Singing Drummers
Muchwita, Shamanistic Percussion with the Wind Baraji Chugwon, THE BARAJI’s Wishes for You All
It has long been a tradition for mothers in Korea to pray to the gods for their families’ well-being, offering a bowl of fresh water as ritual food. “May flowers bloom from our precious family’s footprints and sweet scents radiate from their words. May we be as pure as cool water and always take the straight and narrow path,” they would pray.
How wonderful would it be if everyone lived according to the heartfelt wishes of our mothers?
THE BARAJI portrays a mother’s never-ending love and devotion with baraji music. THE BARAJI wants to extend a mother’s love for her family to those who are weary and burdened from this world so that they may be comforted.
Ssitgim Sinawi, Instrumental Ensemble for the Departed Beasohn, Song of Prayer
Saeng!sagorak, Four Singing Drummers
Muchwita, Shamanistic Percussion with the Wind
Baraji Chugwon, THE BARAJI’s Wishes for You All
It has long been a tradition for mothers in Korea to pray to the gods for their families’ well-being, offering a bowl of fresh water as ritual food. “May flowers bloom from our precious family’s footprints and sweet scents radiate from their words. May we be as pure as cool water and always take the straight and narrow path,” they would pray.
How wonderful would it be if everyone lived according to the heartfelt wishes of our mothers?
THE BARAJI portrays a mother’s never-ending love and devotion with baraji music. THE BARAJI wants to extend a mother’s love for her family to those who are weary and burdened from this world so that they may be comforted.
About the Artists
Artistic Director / Han Seung-seok
Sound Director / Kim Byung-keuk
Percussion / Kang Min-su
Percussion / Kim Tae-young
Ajaeng / Cho Soung-jae
Daegeum / Jeong Kwang-yoon
Voice / Kim Yul-hee
Piri / Oh Young-bin
Gayageum / Kim Min-young
Haegeum / Won Na-kyungdlal ek
Manager / An Ji-eun
This concert is being presented as a part of World Music Institute's Origin series. This series highlights artists who delve into the folklore and roots of their respective culture’s music to tell the story of their origins, preserving and affirming cultural identities and legacies. We are very excited to be working with Korean Culture Center NY and chose to present Baraji because of their presentation of a uniquely preserved element of Korean folkloric tradition.
- Par Neiburger, Artistic Director of the World Music Institute
This performance is co-presented by the Korean Cultural Center New York, World Music Institute, and BAM as part of KCCNY's Open Stage 2017, WMI's Origins Series, and BAM’s BAMcafe Live Series.
For press inquiries, contact Mickey Hyun
mickeyhyun@koreanculture.org or pr@koreanculture.org , 212-759-9550 (ext. 212). For performance inquiries, please contact Hyo Han hhan @koreanculture.org , (212) 759
9550 (ext. 210)
Korean Cultural Center NY
Inaugurated in 1979, the Korean Cultural Center New York (previously known as the Korean Cultural Service New York) is a branch of the Ministry of Culture, Sports and Tourism (MCST) of the Republic of Korea. Under the authority of the Consulate General of the Republic of Korea in New York, KCCNY works to promote cultural arts exchange and stimulate interest in Korean culture through various opportunities. KCCNY provides diverse activities including exhibitions, concerts, film festivals, and educational programs. KCCNY is locatedat460ParkAvenue(at57t h Street),NewYorkCity. www.koreanculture.org .