Pansori (판소리) is a dynamic and historic form of Korean musical story telling that has been designated as ‘Intangible Cultural Heritage’ by UNESCO. In many ways it encapsulates several centuries of Korea’s history in one heady audio cocktail.
Invented in the 17th century, pansori was originally sung only by men. Then in the 1850s along came a woman called Jin Chae Seon - who dared to sing pansoiri so well that she trail blazed a path for many women singers to follow. There’s a 2015 Korean film about her called ‘The Sound of a Flower’
Listen with headphones for the full immersive experience.
Photo: Brian Negin https://www.flickr.com/photos/bdnegin/
