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Why do pansori singers use falsetto for high notes?
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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, singers typically utilize a husky vocal quality known as sori seong for the lower and middle registers, which is achieved by tensing the vocal cords while pushing the diaphragm upward.1
Because it is difficult to maintain this specific husky quality when reaching into the upper registers, performers employ falsetto techniques to effectively reach and project those higher pitches.1