Sori Festival, Wish on the Winds. October 4 -6, 2019. Jeonju, South Korea.

Sori Festival, Wish on the Winds. October 4 -6, 2019.

Jeonju, South Korea.

For the 2019 edition of Jeonju International Sori Festival I was invited to perform as a soloist at three concerts. All concerts included both solo performances as well as collaborations between other artists (wind players) from South Korea, Tibet and some other countries.

The theme of year was Wish on the winds which is described as follows:

“The 18th Jeonju Int’l Sori Festival 2019 presents to give an opportunity to look back at the meaning and value of healing, comfort, and wish to all of those who are distressed from daily life. The Korean word ‘Baram' has double meanings: one is the winds instruments itself and the other is wishes that are deeply rooted in the tradition such as Buddhist music and

farmers’ music. Under the theme of Wish on the Winds, festival will present special programs which was focused on wind instruments from all around the world.”

I was featured at the Grand Opening Concert on October 2nd in a duo collaboration with one of the icons of free improvised music in Korea, the alto saxophonist Mr Kang Tae Hwan. I was also participating in the final improvised suite with ten wind players on all kinds of instruments from seven different countries. (see photo). During this performance I exclusively played Contrabass Flute which contributed to the lower register among all the other winds.

The concert was curated by the artistic director of the festival, Jechun Park.

During the Gala Concert on October 4

I was honored to be one of the main soloists. This performance included two of my solo pieces for Contrabass Flute (Care, Moving) as well as two collaborations. The first one was a duo improvisation with the Korean artist Chang Seon Lee who plays the traditional bamboo flute known as ‘Daegum’ and me playing bass flute.

The grand final of the concert was a trio collaboration between me (bass flute), Kang Tae Hwan (alto saxophone) and Nawan Khechog from Tibet/US who was performing on bansuri bamboo flute and throat singing. The show (which also included more artists) was recorded by the largest TV Company in S.Korea (EBS) and was broadcasted a few weeks later. (See video link and photos).

I also did a solo recital with music from my album TRUST, which was combined with presentations about my view on music and improvisation in general and on my artistic research on inner and outer spaces in particular. After the recital I was joined by a group of younger players for a Masterclass (see photos). During the Masterclass I did exercises in awareness of sound and silence, listening and musical communication.

Reflections

My performances and masterclass was much appreciated by the organizers, audience and my fellow colleagues. It makes me humble to notice that my music and my artistic credo is connecting to people on the other side of the globe. The musical collaborations I did was organized by the festival and was in some ways very challenging due to very different backgrounds and aesthetics among the players. An example was the trio with the Tibetan musician who works in the field of “healing music” and the Korean free form saxophonist. In addition to this, the artistic director had very clear opinions about what he expected from us.

The challenge, as I see it was to adjust my playing to find a way to communicate with each

other, although not to lose my own center and musical integrity. To make music with people

who make other choices and have a different way of playing reflects my own aesthetics and

style and becomes a way to self-knowledge. To meet without losing yourself!

I was really glad to get a chance to perform with a Daegum player from Korea since I have listened to that kind of bamboo flute a lot. It is the lower version of side blown bamboo flute in Korean traditional music. One of the characteristics is the buzzing sound that is created from a thin membrane which covers a hole between the blowing hole and the first finger hole.

I have a head joint to my silver flute with a similar membrane which I used a lot so it was thrilling for me to hear the ‘original’. In our work together I noticed that Chang Seon Lee is a classical musician who is mainly working in the traditional classical Korean orchestra.

However, he wanted to improve and challenge himself to improvise and we found a fruitful ground improvising from a specific tonality. (Se link)

https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=fHMwcQe1mvg

Additional info:

“The Jeonju Int'l Sori Festival is an international music festival that showcases various traditional music from the world and present Korean traditional music including Pansori which has been registered as a Masterpiece of Oral and Intangible Heritage of Humanity by UNESCO and promotes exchange among them.

The Jeonju Int'l Sori Festival founded in 2001. It has done its best not only to bring out the real value of Korean traditional music of today, but also preserving its original forms, and dream the tomorrow through creative challenges and collaboration with other genres.

Every autumn, Jeonju was known as the most Korean city resonates with the Sori (meaning of the Sound of Voice and Music) from all over the world. The festival presents the grand gala concert for opening and closing, outdoor stage of the invited artist from Korea and the world.

Also, various programs such as Master Classes, World Music Workshops, and Kids& Family vitalize the atmosphere of the festival.

The Jeonju Int'l Sori Festival has been selected The Winner of Best Festival Awards by

TWMC Festival Awards.”