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Who were the myeongchang in the pansori tradition?
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pansori
Learn about the Korean buk (double-headed barrel drum) by watching and listening to a man play the type of buk that accompanies pansori narrative singing.
In the tradition of pansori, the term myeongchang refers to "great singers" who were central to the development and refinement of the genre.1
The history of these performers is generally categorized into specific periods:
- Early 19th Century: During this first golden age, myeongchang expanded the audience for pansori by incorporating sophisticated vocal techniques and melodies that appealed to the upper classes, while also integrating regional folk tunes.1
- Late 19th Century: Singers of this period built upon the styles of their predecessors, creating novel variations and new deoneum (distinctive melodic passages).1
- Early 20th Century: This era is often identified as the period of the "five myeongchang," a time when the tradition faced challenges due to Westernization and political shifts.2
While the tradition was historically dominated by men, the 19th-century enthusiast Shin Jae-Hyo pioneered the training of female singers. This led to the emergence of notable performers such as Jin Chae-Seon, Kim So-Hee, and Park Cho-Wol, who introduced new gestures and sounds to the art form.12