Korea - Land of the Morning Calm: Royal Ancestral Shrine Music
presented by Peter Duffy (9 Feb 2003)

Korea's royal ancestral shrine in Seoul houses the ancient tablets (with toenails, fingernails and hair) of 19 revered kings of the Chosun Dynasty (1392-1910). Every year in early May there is a ceremony in honor of the kings of the ancestors, in which both music and dance play an important role. Two 11-set suites, "Preserving Great Peace" and "Achieving Great Works," form the core of the musical performance used in the ceremony. The music of the royal ancestral shrines dates back to the 15th century, and the musical performances have remained virtually unchanged over the last 500 years.

Playlist:
1. Yongshin Huimun (Ushering in the Spirits)
2. Pot'aep'yong (Preserving Great Peace)
3. Chongdaeyop (Achieving Great Works)
4. Songshin Chinch'an (Ushering out the Spirits)

Links:
http://www.korea.net/