Abstract:

This 5 video/1 book set illustrates 57 music and dance performances from Korea (Tapes 1-2) and the Peoples Republic of China (Tapes 3-5). Korean tapes include court music, drum dance, dance to exorcise evil spirits, cymbal dance, zither and flute solos, masked dance-drama, Buddhist chant performed with butterfly dance. Plus folk purification dance, shaman ritual, puppet play, tightrope walking, and farmer's band. Chinese tapes include flute ensemble, lute solo, bowed fiddle with zither, colored ball dance, Beijing opera, Sichuan opera, group dances, mountain songs, narrative songs, sword dances, reed mouth organ and dances, masked dance-drama, threshing song and lullaby, dance with dutar, daf, classical music, instrumental music and circle dances. Also songs in free rhythm and throat singing from Mongolia. Described and put in historical, geographical and cultural context in 140-page accompanying book. Part of the JVC Video Anthology of Music and Dance of the World (please see the JVC/Smithsonian Folkways page within this site for more information).