Pansori (Drum Accompaniment)

Pansori gobeop, or drum technique, emerged after pansori became established in the mid-Joseon period, and refers to the accompaniment in which a gosu, or drummer, beats out the rhythm on a drum to match the singing. Because gobeop is merely the accompaniment to pansori, the drummer was never given prominence, and so there were few renowned master drummers in the Joseon period. The drummer's role was also regarded merely as a means of pansori instruction, so the development of gobeop remained minimal. In the late Joseon period, as pansori developed a wide variety of characteristics, gobeop developed alongside it, but it was only towards the end of the 19th century, with the emergence of professional drummers, that gobeop underwent a dramatic advance. There are various theories of pansori gobeop, but they can broadly be divided into posture theory, drum-length theory, and performance theory. Kim Jae-geun, recognised as the holder of the performing art of pansori gobeop, trained under the late Kim Myeong-hwan, and the Kim Myeong-hwan school of pansori gobeop has several distinctive features. The first concerns the seated position: the drummer places the drum slightly in front of and to the left of the singer. Whereas it is usual to tuck the right foot under the left knee and place the drum in front of it, the Kim Myeong-hwan style places the drum beside the left knee and plays it from there. The second concerns hand movement: techniques in which the drumstick is swung widely out to the side or raised high above the head are considered inelegant. The third concerns striking-point technique: while drummers generally strike four to six points on the drum body, the Kim Myeong-hwan style uses only three — the centre of the top of the drum body, the right edge of the top of the drum body, and the front right side of the drum body. Kim Jae-geun, the holder who was trained in gobeop by Kim Myeong-hwan, is devoted to training the next generation, drawing on his teacher's technique along with his own style of chuimsae, the vocal encouragements given during a performance.

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Where it is

Region

Sacheon, Gyeongnam

Designation

Provincial Intangible Heritage · 시도무형유산