In search of Korean traditional opera: discourses of ch'angguk

Abstract

This is the first book on Korean opera in a language other than Korean. Its subject is ch'angguk, a form of musical theater that has developed over the last hundred years from the older narrative singing tradition of p'ansori. Andrew Killick examines the history and current practice of ch'angguk as an ongoing attempt to invent a traditional Korean opera form to compare with those of neighboring China and Japan. In this, the work addresses a growing interest within the fields of ethnomusicology and Asian studies in the adaptation of traditional arts to conditions in the modern world. For the benefit of readers who have not seen ch'angguk performed, the author begins with a detailed description of a typical performance, illustrated with photographs and musical examples, followed by a history of the genre - from its still disputed origins in the early twentieth century through a major revival under Japanese colonial rule and the flourishing of an all-female version (yosong kukkur) after Liberation to the efforts of the National Changgeuk Company and others to establish ch'angguk as Korean traditional opera. Killick concludes with analyses of the stories and music of ch'angguk and a personal view on developing a Korean national theater form for international audiences.