Karjam Gets Ready to Go

June 29^th, 2011

I worked on the computer and Karjam and I went out for a really good dinner then we browsed Kyobo Bookstore (and came home with a heavier bag).

June 30^th, 2011

I packed a box to send to the US and Karjam packed his bags for the airplane. Sad he's leaving. Karjam also finished up some "making of" videos to thank his collaborators and as little advertising pieces for the upcoming CD. Here they are!

Making of "Counting Song" featuring Kim Yuna

Making of "Song for Tsemphel" featuring Hilary Finchum-Sung

Please visit the videos, comment and "like" them on Youtube. Thank you!

In the evening I went to Bongsan Talchum. Class was a little odd, we had three new people (one who came last week, one who came on Monday (I was absent) and one who was new today. We also had an observer who is a dance instructor at a university in Texas. Class went pretty well, we ran through the monk parts and proceeded to practice the part of the old grandmother and the 사상좌 sasangjwa. I was a little distracted though, as lots of people I don't know makes me nervous and because the really good 이수자 isuja for 적벽가 Jeokbyeokga (one of the pansori epics) was rehearsing and I love sneaking down the hall to hear him.

Catching Up

June 25^th, 2011

We went to the studio but really had nothing to do except talk a bit and take some commemorative photos.  In the afternoon I went to 송파산대놀이 Songpa Sandae Noli it was only 함Sr. and 함 Jr. who showed up (it was raining cats and dogs). However, it was still good, esp. because FINALLY I got Ham Wanshik (Sr.) to give me a nice long interview.

June 26^th, 2011

On Sunday after lots of computer time Karjam and I roamed the city with a video camera.

June 27^th, 2011

I did a lot of work on the computer and reading.

June 28^th, 2011

I went to Dankook University this morning and dropped off my reader pages.

I did some work on the computer and in the evening went to a dance performance because 박연식 and 손병만 were in one of the groups. To tell the truth I had not been looking forward to the performance. It was a big omnibus performance with four different teachers, 한혜경, 김은희, 진유림 and 이정희. I have seen one of them do a big show before and it was quite a waste of time, but this time the other three were okay, pretty good, and really good, so it was not a bad show overall.  The really good was 이정희, who was also the teacher and leader of the performance that Son Byeongman and Bak Yeonshik were in (each teacher did two performances, one solo and one group).

But what made the show for me was that I had the best seats I've ever had. Which is a bit of a story. Yeonshik had asked me (three times) how many (free) tickets I needed, and I'd told him two. I was a little chagrined when Karjam decided not to go, but he's been to a lot of Korean dance performances, and some haven't been so good, so I understood. I didn't have time for dinner, so I quickly found a 삼각김밥 when I got off the bus and ate it as a I walked to the hall. I got in about 10 minutes before the show. And Yeonshik had not gotten my ticket to the counter and processed, which meant that –after- I met up with him (you should have seen the make-up he had on! And the fake eyelashes so long they must have tickled his eyebrows.) I had to try to redeem a 초대권 invitation ticket for a real ticket, but the show was sold out… so no chance of that, except a bunch of people were mobbing the desk trying to be let in to sit on the floor in the aisles. I couldn't handle pushing, and was standing back and suddenly a woman I know from 봉천놀이마당 Bongcheon Noli Madang but had only met once ran over (everyone was already entering the theatre, since it was now 2 minutes to showtime) and asked if I was alone and gave me a ticket. It was a 30,000 won ticket in the center section 3 rows back from the stage!!! And she refused to take any money for it.

I would have stayed very happy if only after the show it hadn't been raining (and I had no umbrella) so I jumped on the first bus that came, but it was heading the opposite direction of what I thought and I ended up taking the LONG LONG LONG way home. 

More Studio Time

June 22^nd, 2011

Today 윤지희 Yun Jihee, the 해금 haegeum player for 송파산대놀이 Songpa Sandae Noli came to the studio to add haegeum tracks to two of Karjam's songs. One of those songs, "Losar Dodlih" will have more different tracks on it than any of the other songs on the CD. Normally I like sparser arrangements and Karjam likes fuller arrangements, but I'm pretty excited about this. I think Jihee is super super sweet and she was ultra-professional. We had to leave the studio after that because another client was coming.

June 23^rd, 2011 Karjam's Birthday

For Karjam's birthday we watched "Super 8" (we liked it), bought Karjam really good quality headphones (he was stoked!) and went to a fancy-dancy Chinese restaurant. Honestly I could barely eat my main dish and only enjoyed the shared bokchoy. My soup? Best not to mention it. But Karjam was stuffed and very very happy.

June 24^th, 2011

We worked on re-recording some vocal tracks for the CD and making editing choices on the other tracks.

In the evening we went to see a 가사 gasa and 시조 shijo concert (these are two types of sung poetry of the Joseon Dynasty and to many people NOT very attractive because they're very very different from what most people are used to). It was super cool, though, and Karjam enjoyed it because he loves hearing different types of singing and new things. 

Karjam and I Spend a lot of Time in the Studio

June 19^th, 2011

After working on my conference paper for several hours I headed to the 국악원 Gugakwon to meet up with 최해리 Choi Haeri, a dance researcher that professor 조경만 had introduced me to. The conversation was very fruitful and rewarding. Both because Haeri is really knowledgeable and intelligent and gave me great new information and shook loose some ideas that have been percolating in my skull, and also because I think we could become friends, certainly she's quick thinking, critical and intelligent, just the way I like my friends.

During our conversation even there was a constant stream of other people coming through because a performance was beginning at 5. I had tickets, as it was 진옥섭 Jin Okseop's big deal annual performance, and there were a lot of people I knew there, including 엄승용, 고석진, 손병만, 이병옥, 이수환 and many many more. After the bell had already started ringing to tell everyone to go in and find their seats Karjam finally arrived. I need to start telling him things start 30 minutes before they actually do. It really stresses me out when he's late.

The 30,000 won seats had been sold out when I got around to buying tickets (the entire show sold out!), and I decided 40 or 50,000 per seat was too much for me to justify, so we were in the 20,000 won seats on the third floor. Karjam was frustrated that he couldn’t see well enough. That's true, we couldn't. The show was interesting. I studiously recorded all of Jin Okseop's emceeing for later analysis. I need to go visit him and take a photo of him. His name will definitely be sprinkled throughout my dissertation. After the show a friend of Haeri's introduced me to one of the performers, but it wasn't the performer who had wowed me… not quite sure why Haeri thought I should meet her. Mid show 장사익 Jang Sa'ik had come up on stage and sung two songs. Karjam was even more blown away live than when we listen to Jang's music at home, so he insisted that I introduce him to Jang afterwards. Mind you, I've met Jang before and I'm a total fan, but that doesn't mean Jang knows me. Whatever, I'm ballsy enough to walk up to the most famous person in the lobby and say "my husband, a Tibetan singer, really wants to meet you." They took a photo together, exchanged cards and Jang invited Karjam to stop by for tea and Chinese noodles. Hmmm…. Should we really?

June 20^th, 2011

During the day Karjam and I hung out with 영훈 Yeonghun at the studio as he mixed some of Karjam's songs. Then I went to 봉산탈춤 Bongsan Talchum. Class was interesting. We had two new students, both students majoring in 연극 drama, both at Bongsan Talchum because they strategically believed that learning a Korean way of moving (what the man said) and more about traditional theatre (what both said) would be useful for them in their future. Also this graduate student, 김현철 came back. He was in class in August and September, but was back now after the school year ended. He majored in 국악 Korean music for his undergrad and is now majoring in Music Education. I like him, but he looks like he's in high school. Speaking of, 현석's friend 동호,  attended his second class. And 미행 Mihaeng is back. She gave me some nice handmade soap. She's so negative I really wish she wasn't back, but she likes me, so… I'm torn. Oh and 윤희 Yunhee, the dancer, came back. It was a lively day. We practiced 7 monks and did 할미 Halmi (grandmother) only.

June 21^st, 2011 Summer Solstice

We had recording again today, with Hilary Finchum-Sung coming in the morning to record a violin track for "A Song for Tsemphel" (this title might change). The song is so sad, because Karjam's friend is serving a 15 year prison sentence for political reasons and Karjam misses him so much (and worries about Tsemphel's family). The song had already been quite good, but it didn't feel as sad as the lyrics. With the addition of Hilary's violin track the song really came alive. When we listened to the song after she was done both Karjam and I cried.

We had lunch with Hilary and then it was time to meet 김유나Kim Yuna. Originally we were going to have a special student of Hilary's Bitna do the 아쟁 ajaeng, but her grandmother got seriously sick, so Bitna introduced another ajaeng player. I've been emailing with Yuna but this was the first meeting. She was so cute in her black high heels, ruffled white blouse and black skirt. Her hair even was quite stylish. She had taken my injunction to be ready for the camera quite seriously. She needed more of Yeonghun's explanation than any other of the musicians so far, as it was her first time in the studio, but her expression of nervous delight to be putting on the headphones for the first time was just delightfully cute. Karjam and I stayed at the studio integrating Samkuchet's singing into the two songs (she sent files from Gannan) until nearly 8 pm.

Most of a Week

June 13^th, 2011

I went to Yonsei to get ready for my class I'll be teaching at Dankook University—I had to print a bunch of things and also find some books and copy certain chapters, all in preparation for making a kick ass reader. I estimate I should get it to the university by the beginning of July, so I still have a tad bit of time. That is good because the library is even lamer than I expected and I could not find some extremely key books—however I was able to use credit that had been on my card since 2006 (!!!) to do the copying in the library.

I barely had time to get home and get back out the door with my stuff for 봉산탈춤 Bongsan Talchum.

At class we had a small turn out, a new high school student, 동호,  plus 윤식, 하연, 세준, 수미. We practiced the 7 of 8 monks in order, then did 애사당, 소무, 할미 and 사상좌.

June 14^th, 2011

I got odds and ends done, but no real writing again. Argh.

Karjam and I went to an amazing 판소리 pansori performance in the evening at 풍류극장. The performance featured one senior singer, 송순섭 and two of his students (one an 이수자, one a 전수자), as well as two 고수 (accompanists for pansori), one for the master and one for the students. The show was really great, and Karjam loved it, too.

June 15^th, 2011

I honestly am so far behind on updating this. I cannot remember anything special happening, I think I just worked on my conference paper the entire day.

June 16^th, 2011

I worked on my paper for most of the day then at 8 we had to go to the studio to add the last of 고석진 Go Seokjin's percussion tracks to the CD. It was sort of frustrating. Karjam was in a poor mood and that impacted his decisiveness and also made him dislike almost everything. It was actually more than sort of frustrating. And since he was irritated at me, I couldn't (as I normally do) make some choices when he was being indecisive. I'm a very good tie-breaker. At 1 (in the morning) we were all exhausted and Karjam still wasn't happy, but we called it quits. Then Seokjin, Karjam and I went to a GS25 and had instant noodles, instant ddeokbokgi and kimchi from a vacuum-packed bag. No this was not my idea.

June 17^th, 2011

I think I spent the entire day writing on my conference paper, increasingly freaked out that I wouldn't get it done.

In the evening I had 상모 sangmo class at Sogang University. It was awesome! Even though I haven't been able to have a class in a long time, today I was amazing! And I learned a whole routine to enter the stage (or the center stage for a solo) which will come in handy later on. Yay!

June 18^th, 2011

I took the bus to near Songpa Sandae Noli and then sat in a coffee shop and worked on the paper until time to practice. Class was very sparse, just 함완식 Ham Wanshik, 이수환 Yi Suhwan, 함승헌 Ham Seungheon and me. Yi Suhwan was teaching the motions and since he and I had a falling out over him repeatedly changing the English on the 송파산대놀이 facebook page (please visit it and "like" it), even though I'm the native English speaker who writes about Songpa Sandae Noli in English, he ignored me and taught Ham Jr. while Ham Sr. drummed and I just followed along. He was teaching him the part of 노장 Nojang, the old monk, so that was actually kind of interesting. This is one of the two parts that Yi Suhwan jealously maintains control of and almost always performs. From a dance perspective it's the most difficult solo in the entire drama. The most interesting part of class was a debate between Ham Sr. and Yi about changing motions in the dance. The debate may go in the dissertation word for word (I wrote as fast as I could).

After class I went back near home, but stopped at Chan's Bros and wrote for at least a couple more hours there before I went home.

Interview with Jin Okseop and Karjam plays music with Go Seokjin

May 18^th, 2011

I finally finished the article (but the editor sent it back with changes needed later in the day). Then I said good-bye to Kim who is off to America and rushed to KOUS to interview 진옥섭 Jin Okseop, the artistic director there and the guy who taught the 4 lectures on Korean dance that I attended a while back. I had dreaded the interview, because whenever I'd talked to him he'd been a bit arrogant and I especially disliked how he'd had the course at KOUS (in the spotlight, on stage, no questions and leaving backstage so he never talked to people). However after he finally had time (I sat around having had no breakfast or lunch for an hour before he got rid of a previous meeting) I discovered (surprisingly) that he was oddly shy. For the first 7 or 8 minutes of the interview I think he only looked at me three times. He basically looked at his hands (and fidgeted a bit) or the table, or the voice recorder, or out the window. It was clear that he was intimidated by me (I am NOT intimidating in Korean. I'm a bit direct (this is a cultural difference and my personality and more limited Korean makes me more direct than a smooth-tongued native speaker) but since I don't SOUND academic most people tend to dismiss me as being kind of cute or funky or whatever. I actually take advantage of this in interviews because I'm –not- imposing or scary so people are more likely to speak honestly without need to pump themselves or their importance and they see me as less of someone to be on guard with than a 'real' academic (a Korean who will publish in Korean in Korea) so they tend to be pretty up front.

Jin Okseop photo I found on the internet

As the interview went on I was surprised how sweet he was. He should be more like himself on stage and less like a stuffed yangban robe (I'd say stuffed shirt, but he wears hanbok, robe style). He started a Ph.D. and quit for some of the same reasons I'm frustrated by Korean academia and we bonded on that point. By the end (and I had to run, literally I sprinted for the bus) he was being super open and had a trillion things to say to me and I had come around on several points in which I had been critical of him and his management of KOUS. So it was a great interview, if shorter than I'd like.

Then I met up with Karjam at the 예술의 전당 Seoul Arts Center and we met 고석진 Go Seokjin (of 고성오광대 Goseong Ogwangdae and the 서울예술단 Seoul Performing Arts Company). Karjam and he jammed around and Seokjin is obviously going to work out REALLY well for Karjam's CD, except that he's expensive (more than I'd expected and he's giving us a good rate). He really will bring so much to the CD, though. I know a ton of percussionists. Heck I see percussionist all the time. My Bongsan Talchum teacher Kim Eunju is very well respected, the lead drummer for Songpa Sandae Noli Gang Cha-uk travels around accompanying people in concert. My sangmo teacher Yi Jonghui did percussion in university and does full time now— not to mention my various drummer friends from Gaejeonyeon and what not. But Seokjin (I describe his drumming in this post) is special and I know he'll make Karjam's CD special, too.