>Information on Pansori



Byeongchang is that a performer sings a particular part of Pansori while playing a musical instrument. There are Gayageum (12-stringed Korean harp) Byeongchang and Geomungo (6-stringed Korean zitherlike instrument) Byeongchang. We can¡¯t talk about Byeongchang without the birth of Sanjo which is an instrumental solo because masters of Sanjo were excellent at Byeongchang too. However, considering that Byeon Gang-Soi Ga (which was put in order by Jae-Hyo Shin) has a scene of singing a song while playing Gayageum, and that Seokhwaje (namely, Gayageum Byeongchangje) was made by Je-Cheol Kim, Man-Yeob Shin, etc. in the middle part of the 19th century, the possibility that Byeongchang might have existed before the development of Sanjo can¡¯t be excluded.
It is unknown exactly when Gayageum Byeongchang was made, but it is known that it was originated from Chang-Jo Kim who came from Yeongam, Jeonnam and from Pal-Gwae Park who came from Chungcheongdo. During the rule of the Japanese imperialism, many masters of Byeongchang were produced. Chang-Jo Kim¡¯s disciples are Su-Gwan Oh, Seong-Gi Han, Tae-Hong Kang, So-Hyang Lee, etc. Tae-Seok Oh, a son of Su-Gwan Oh¡¯s, is the best master of Gayageum Byeongchang in history. Nam-Hee Jeong, Jong-Gi Kim and Seong-Gi Han were the masters of Byeongchang too. Nam-Hee Jeong sang not only the traditional Pansori, but also new songs that were made with Pansori techniques in the type of Byeongchang. Sang-Gwon Shim is a famous master of Byeongchang from Chungcheongdo.
In the modern times, Gui-Hee Park is a famous master of Byeongchang coming from Daegu. In the beginning, she performed Pansori, but learned Gayageum Byeongchang from Nam-Hee Jeong, Tae-Hong Kang and Tae-Seok Oh. In 1968, she became a carrier of an important intangible cultural asset, and in 1992 she died. Her disciples are Sook-Seon Ahn, Jeong-Sook Kang and Seong-Nyeo Kim. Besides, Dal-Yeong Jeong and Gab-Soon Oh are working as masters of Gayageum Byeongchang.
Quae-Dong Shin (1909-1978) was the only master of Geomungo Byeongchang. After him, there is no one of Geomungo Byeongchang who is in the class of master.
It is possible to sing both Pansori and Danga in Byeongchang. At first, it seems that only a particular part of Pansori was performed in Byeongchang. It is thought that Gayageum Byeongchang seems related with Pansori ¡®Seokhwaje.¡¯ Seokhwaje indicates a part of ¡®Sojinohwa¡¯ and a part of ¡®an owl laugh¡¯ in [Sugungga]. These parts are sung peacefully and pleasantly, which are made with JungJungmori. Therefore, it is guessed that Byeongchang might have sung only a particular part like Seokhwaje in the beginning. However, now almost all the parts of Pansori are performed in Byeongchang.
Byeongchang is to sing a song while playing a musical instrument so it is impossible to do Neoreumsae (layout) or Balim (actions), and also impossible to show the techniques of vocalization to the full. Therefore, the techniques of Byeongchang are light and easy compared with those of Pansori, which is the reason why those who have a lack of skills or voice generally perform Byeongchang.