Jongmyojeryeak is royal court music written especially for rites held at the Jongmyo Shrine in Seoul where the royal family and other retainers worshiped the kings of the Joseon Dynasty (1392-1910). This ancient form of traditional royal music will come alive again in Paris, France, on September 18 and 19.

As the next year marks the 130th anniversary of the establishment of diplomatic ties between Korea and France, 85 performers -- 50 from the Court Music Orchestra and 35 from the Dance Theater, all affiliated with the National Gugak Center -- will fly to the City of Lights to put on the show at the Jean Vilar hall at the Chaillot National Theater.

The court music was chosen as the opener for the 2015-2016 France-Korea Year festivities to be held in celebration of the 130th year of bilateral ties. In addition, it was also selected as the opening show to kick off the Chaillot National Theater’s 2015-2016 season.



At the performances, the entire full-length ceremony will be performed, a first on the global scene. “We’ve so far played this music overseas three times, but we only ever played just part of the ceremony, with only about 40 players and dancers. The upcoming French shows will involve the largest-ever number of performers, giving a rare chance to experience the entire picture of this ancient art,” said Director General Kim Hae-suk of the National Gugak Center during a press conference on June 11.

Jongmyojeryeak was designated as one of UNESCO’s Intangible Cultural Heritage items in 2001. The music was played when royal and ancestral rites were performed at the Jongmyo Shrine, paying tribute to deceased Joseon kings. The genre is considered an aggregate of royal traditions, representing court music and dance from Joseon times.



“Jongmyojeryeak is one of Korea’s impeccable, unparalleled masterpieces, which cannot be found anywhere else in the world,” said Director Choi Jun-ho of the organizing committee for the September event. “Both countries agreed that the genre is grand enough to be the opener, to lift the curtains for the festival. Such a tradition being kept alive and having been handed down through the years is quite uncommon,” the director added.

The Paris performance will cut back on ritual sounds, like recitations of written prayers, known as chungmun, while increasing the magnificence and solemnity of the original music. Some explanation about the music and videos that show the Jongmyo Shrine throughout the seasons will be projected onto a screen, helping Parisians get a better understanding of the history surrounding the ceremonial rites. The audience will additionally be able to comprehend the meanings behind the music and dance steps by reading the French subtitles, too.



By Sohn JiAe
Photos: Jeon Han
Korea.net Staff Writers
jiae5853@korea.kr