Shimchung: Recitative and Aria (with Korean Subtitles) video

(with Korean Subtitles) This is from the film "Sopyonje" by the great Korean Film Director, Im Kwon Taek. This is a song in the classical Korean style called, "Pansori." In this portion of the ballad "Shimchung", the singer and sensitive accompanist on the drum are at the point of the story where Shimchung (a young girl) gets ready to jump of a ship into the sea to sacrifice herself to the sea gods. She has done this to obtain 300 sacks of rice -- payment needed so that her father (who has cared for her since birth) will regain his sight.) In this piece one hears how sound and emotion combine to tell a story, set up an image, and limn the emotion of the characters. The performers are working with extremly beautiful and poetic lyrics to inspire their art. For example, listen how the vocalist and drummer imitate the ceremonial beating drums announcing her jump into the sea. Or how she imitates the swan dive soaring into the air and into the water. Or the anguish in her words, as she doubts herself and her devotion. Astounding. (Performed by An Sook Sun)

Sook-Sun YouTube music videos

See the latest Sook-Sun music videos from YouTube, video interviews, live sessions, music video news and band walk-ons from around the globe