Crown Haitai Confectionery has successfully concluded the 21st Changsin Festival, a traditional music performance featuring renowned artists and company employees. This year, the festival highlighted the court music 'Sujecheon,' combining choral performances, court dance, and traditional percussion to showcase the diverse appeal of traditional music.
The festival took place from October 10 to 12 at the Sejong Center in Seoul, as announced by Crown Haitai on October 13.
Launched in 2004, the Changsin Festival is the largest traditional music event hosted by a private company in South Korea. The theme 'Bokgo Changsin' (法古創新), which means creating something new by learning from the old, emphasizes preserving the essence of traditional music while adding modern interpretations.
This year, 'Sujecheon' was selected as the central piece for the fifth consecutive year. Originating from the Baekje song 'Jeong-eupsa' about 1,500 years ago, Sujecheon evolved into a traditional wind ensemble piece during the Goryeo and Joseon dynasties. Since last year, Crown Haitai has expanded the performance format by integrating singing and dance with the original composition of Sujecheon.
The performance began with a choral rendition of the lyrics from 'Jeong-eupsa' by 100 Crown Haitai employees, accompanied by the Seoul Traditional Orchestra and the Rak-eum Traditional Music Group's performance of Sujecheon. The traditional wind ensemble piece was arranged for a traditional orchestra, adding four-part harmonies to transform the original instrumental piece into a choral work.
Following this, a dance performance titled 'Ilmu' was presented, accompanied by the ritual music 'Jeonpyehimu' and a vocal interpretation of the melodies played on traditional instruments like the piri and daegeum. Male and female singers creatively expressed the sounds of traditional instruments through their voices, offering a unique interpretation of Sujecheon.
This year also featured the debut of a creative dance titled 'Obangjeongjae.' Inspired by the use of Sujecheon as accompaniment for court dances, this piece restructured Ilmu, Cheoyongmu, and Chun-aengjeon into a unified performance, with 50 Crown Haitai employees taking the stage.
Next, the traditional percussion performance 'Sujecheon Dongrak' followed, culminating in a performance by the Yangju Pungnyu Music Association, composed of traditional music masters, showcasing the original ensemble format used in court performances.
A special stage for the next generation of traditional music talents was also organized. On October 11, the 'Young Talent Han-eum Special Performance' was held at the same venue, featuring winners from Crown Haitai's annual 'Gather! Han-eum Dream Contest.' These participants showcased their skills honed through the 'Young Talent Han-eum' program, held every Sunday at the Crown Haitai Hall in Namsan Hanok Village.
Crown Haitai continues to support traditional music through competitions and regular performances, providing opportunities for emerging talents to perform on large stages.
Yoon Young-dal, Chairman of Crown Haitai, stated, "The Changsin Festival is a precious stage where Crown Haitai creates happiness and enjoyment with our customers through traditional music. We will continue to strive to share the beauty of our traditional music with many people in Korea and around the world."
* This article has been translated by AI.
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