When I was a child, I had the pleasure of viewing a pansori (판소리) performance in Korea. Pansori (판소리) is a type of traditional Korean music using vocals and instruments. The singer of a Pansori (판소리) performance is called a 소리꾼. The 소리꾼 is usually accompanied by a drummer called a 고수. Both the singer and drummer are dressed in traditional Korean clothing.

During a pansori (판소리) performance, the 소리꾼 may make gestures with a fan in hand. The fans allow the singer to be expressive. Being expressive is a key part of a pansori performance. The 소리꾼 acts as the storyteller. The medium in which the story is told is through  a descriptive like speech in a sing songy voice called 아니리. A 소리꾼 needs to have stamina. Some plays like 춘향가 may take ten hours to complete; all done while standing.

The 고수 or drummer works equally hard. In addition to keeping the tempo of the play, at certain points of the play the drummer may let out a 추임새. A 추임새 is a loud nonsensical word like ha! (하), oy! (오이) scattered throughout the play. Unlike the 소리꾼, the 고수 can sit down throughout the play. In fact, the drum, which is called 북, makes it difficult for the drummer to stand. Usually the drummer sits sideways, so that the audience can only see the side of his face. This is so the focus falls on the singer instead of the drummer.

Sadly, only five complete Pansori plays are available to us. The most famous of the five is 춘향가. It’s about a courtesan’s daughter who marries the son of an important official. The two marry in secret because the laws of Chosun Korea prohibit marriages between different social groups. As the son leaves to take an exam to become a magistrate, a corrupt official imprisons the courtesan’s daughter and tries to make her his concubine. As she faces execution for her refusal to be the corrupt magistrate’s concubine, her husband saves her from death.

The Korean drama, Delightful Girl Choon-Hyang is loosely based on 춘향가. For an accurate version try a Pansori play.