Korean Singer of Tales

Pihl, Marshall R.

ISBN 10: 0674012747 / ISBN 13: 9780674012745

Published by Harvard University Asia Center, 2003

Seller Inventory # 1632015-n

Synopsis:

P'ansori, the traditional oral narrative of Korea, is sung by a highly trained soloist to the accompaniment of complex drumming. The singer both narrates the story and dramatizes all the characters, male and female. Performances require as long as six hours and make extraordinary vocal demands. In the first book-length treatment in English of this remarkable art form, Pihl traces the history of p'ansori from its roots in shamanism and folktales through its nineteenth-century heyday under highly acclaimed masters and discusses its evolution in the twentieth century. After examining the place of p'ansori in popular entertainment and its textual tradition, he analyzes the nature of texts in the repertoire and explains the vocal and rhythmic techniques required to perform them.

Pihl's superb translation of the alternately touching and comic "Song of Shim Ch'ong"―the first annotated English translation of a full p'ansori performance text―illustrates the emotional range, narrative variety, and technical complexity of p'ansori literature. The Korean Singer of Tales will interest not only Korean specialists, but also students of comparative literature, folklore, anthropology, and music.

About the Author: Marshall R. Pihl was Professor of Korean Literature at the University of Hawai‘i at Mānoa.

Bibliographic Details

Title: Korean Singer of Tales
Publisher: Harvard University Asia Center
Publication Date: 2003
Binding: Soft cover
Condition: New