Intro

Crowded and strange, therefore this song exists!

Synopsis

Zapga (folk songs) is a subcategory of Korean traditional vocal music.
Sung by professional sorikkun, Zapga was a popular music form during the Joseon era.
The twelve total pieces that have survived until today are called The Twelve Zapga.
“Zap” literally means “miscellaneous or crude.” In contradiction to its definition, however,
the performance of Zapga requires highly skilled vocalists, a fact that this genre of music, situated on the lowest rung in the past,
has become so unapproachable.
LEE, Hee-moon and his colleagues gathered together, believing that the combination of each member’s unique personality would enrich the meaning of the deprecated word “Zap.” Their goal was to examine the artistry of Zapga, and through their performance of the lyrics and story to share the unique beauty and pleasure of Zapga with their audiences.

Review

"This project had it’s premiere in 2013, but now not only focusing on music and choreography, also adding cinematography, got a new identity from the origin of Gyeonggi 12 zapga. The Stages are all white with colorful lights and cinema. Physical dance performers lead the sitting zapga straight into the standing club. Unlike the performance premiered before, Lee Hee-moon focuses his role in singing in his signature voices. Already forgotten traditional Gyeonggi zapga, there’s a new-born creation titled ZAP collaborated with renowned artists, whice illuminates Lee’s creative identity in depth."
- Hyeon Kyeong-chae (Music critic)

Photos and video

Creator / artist

The Lee Hee-moon Company, led by the Korean traditional lyrical storyteller 'sorikkun' LEE, Hee-moon, is comprised of singers, musicians and dancers from a variety of disciplines. Lee’s performances consist of a hybrid of genres, taking the vast repertoire of folk songs (minyo) of the Gyeonggi area as a motif. He brings Korean traditional vocal music, which has been sidelined in the Korean art world, to the center stage and mixes it with art forms of different qualities. The result is a distinctive sound that suggests to the audience a new way of appreciating vocal music.

Promotion Infomation

TOUR SIZE
Performers : 8
Staff : 5

DURATION
90 min. Including intermission 6 min

STAGE SIZE
Width : 10 m, Depth : 11 m, Height : 10 m

Contact

SHIN, Jin-young

Interview Link