Exploration of the Musical Essence of Roots with a Contemporary Twist!

<Vocal Fever> featuring Beompae, Gagok, and Folksongs from the Gyeonggi Province

Gagok is Korea’s traditional vocal genre that has been passed down for thousands of years. It was designated as a National Intangible Cultural Heritage and recognized by UNESCO as an Intangible Cultural Heritage in 2010. Generally enjoyed by intellectuals as a means of spiritual self-education, gagok is a vocal music sung to the accompaniment of stringed instruments, with lyrics from sijo (a traditional form of poetry). It is divided into songs for female, male, and mixed voices. Female gagok begins with the slowest piece (ujo isakdaeyeop), and gradually becomes faster and more rhythmic in the later nong, rak, and pyeon sections.

Master Yeongsongdang Jo Soonja is a holder of the national intangible cultural heritage gagok. She studied gagok under the guidance of masters Lee Juhwan, Lee Nanhyang, and Chung Woon. Recently, she published the first complete collection of gagok in the jeongganbo notational system titled “The Sixteen Pieces of Female Gagok” for the promotion of the beauty of gagok and to contribute to the academia. The singing of the master, at the age of over 80, will feature her clear and elegant voice that captures the essence of female gagok, creating a deep emotional impact. The musicians trained at Yeongsongheon, the training-center of gagok located in Changwon, will perform instrumental accompaniment.

Gagok Imbued with the Beauty of Moderation and Slowness

The Charming Essense of Female Gagok Genre

The 2025 Sori Festival brings together a variety of genres that reflect the contemporariness while preserving the essence of traditional music, under the section titled <Vocal Fever>, The section features “Beompae,” a vocal genre sung during Buddhist rituals; “Gagok,” a singing genre of traditional poems to the accompaniment of traditional instruments; and “Gyeonggi Minyo,” which means folksongs from the Gyeonggi Province. Do not miss the <Vocal Fever> that aligns perfectly with the Festival’s keyword of this year, “Echoes from the Homeland!” Audiences will be given a great opportunity to experience the unique charm of traditional vocal music of Korea.