Chunhyang-ga, the Most Beloved Love Song
Enjoy various versions of Chunhyang-ga (Song of Chunhyang) recorded on gramophone records
Wordbook of 'Chunhyangga'National Gugak Center
Chunhyang-jeon, a record of a Joseon romance
Love stories have always been popular, whether in the past or present. Chunhyang-jeon, a love story most beloved by the Korean people as a novel, was made into a pansori performance and later into changgeuk (traditional Korean opera). All have enjoyed tremendous popularity.
Photo of pansori singerNational Gugak Center
Chunhyang-jeon featuring popular singers
In Korea, phonograph records played a powerful role as a mass medium alongside the radio broadcasts that began in 1927. At that time, top stars of pansori such as Lee Hwajungseon, Lee Dong-baek, Im Bang-ul, Park Nok-ju, and Oh Tae-seok actively participated in recordings and radio appearances. They gained immense popularity through performances of the changgeuk Chunhyang-jeon and phonograph records.
ChunhyangjeonNational Gugak Center
Chunhyang-jeon released on gramophone records
Chunhyang-jeon series were released by many recording companies including Nipponophone, Chieron, Columbia, Victor, and Okeh.
NipponophoneNational Gugak Center
Chunhyang-jeon released by Nipponophone
The recording of the changgeuk Chunhyang-jeon, released by Nipponophone in 1926, consists of a total of 18 gramophone records. Although the series was represented as changgeuk (opera), it was rather closer to ipchechang pansori played by individual singers led by pansori master Yi Dong-baek.
Chieron’s 'Chunhyangga'National Gugak Center
Chunhyang-jeon released by Chieron
In 1934, Sieron Records released a total of 12 gramophone records featuring Chunhyang-jeon. Mr. Kim Jeong-mun and Ms. Shin Geum-hong sang as male and female characters, respectively.
Chieron’s 'Sipjangga, the blood-covered', a scene of Chunhyangga.National Gugak Center
Chunhyang-jeon with theater actors
Sieron's Chunhyang-jeon not only featured pansori master singers but also had dialogue parts recorded by theater actors Shim Young and Namgung Seon, thus maximizing the theatrical elements of the production.
Columbia’s advertisment published in the Dong-a IlboNational Gugak Center
Chunhyang-jeon released by Columbia
Columbia’s Chunhyang-jeon series was released in 1934, on a total of 18 gramophone records. More dialogues and fewer leader’s parts in this album made this work very operatic compared to the other series. The participating singers were Kim Chang-nyong, Yi Hwajungseon, Oh Bi-chwi, Gwon Geum-ju, and Han Seong-jun.
Album of two lovers’ marriage vow of 'Chunhyangga'National Gugak Center
Chunhyang-jeon released by Victor
Chunhyang-jeon released by Victor in 1937 featured recordings by Jeong Jeong-ryeol, Yi Hwajungseon, Bak Nok-ju, Im Bang-ul, Kim So-hui, and Han Seong-jun. This series became one of the most beloved recordings among the public and was replicated as SP and LP albums in the 1950s and 1960s.
Victor Chunhyang posterNational Gugak Center
Victor’s Chunhyang-jeon reproduced by Namwon National Gugak Center
Namwon National Gugak Center reproduced Victor’s Chunhyang-jeon series as new media content in an operatic style based on the original records. Titled Pansori Printed on the Disc: Victor’s Chunhyang-jeon, this production faithfully recreated the contents of the albums of that time, offering a reenactment in the form of a sound drama.
Victor Chunhyang (2014-04-12) by Namwon National Gugak CenterNational Gugak Center
Meet the masterful singers who participated in the recording of Victor's Chunhyang-jeon in 1937 —Jeong Jeong-ryeol, Lee Hwajungseon, Bak Nok-ju, Im Bang-ul, Kim So-hui, and Han Seong-jun— through Pansori, Printed on the Disc: Victor’s Chunhyang-jeon by the Namwon National Gugak Center.
Full collection of Okeh’s Chunhyangjeon seriesNational Gugak Center
Chunhyang-jeon released by Okeh
Released in 1937, Okeh Records' Chunhyang-jeon featured the participation of masterful singers Im Bang-ul and Yi Hwajungseon with drummer Jeong Won-seop. This series comprised a total of 20 phonogram records.
Sarangga of Chunhyangga (The Mongryong and Chunhyang's lovesong) (2020-03-19) by National Gugak CenterNational Gugak Center
The changgeuk Chunhyang-jeon and pansori Chunhyang-ga remain as popular as ever today across all ages. Experience the love songs of Lee Mong-ryong and Chunhyang, which have been passed down from the Joseon Dynasty to the present day through the sound of gramophone records, represented by the National Gugak Center.
Experience the story of Korean sound recorded on phonograph records from over 100 years ago and still being passed down today through the online exhibition Recordings of Sounds from 100 Years Ago.
Produced by Research Bureau, National Gugak Center
Director General: Kim Yeong-un
Executive Director: Kim Myeongseok
Director: Kim Sori
Project Manager/Editor: Hong Seah
Reference
National Gugak Center, “House of records, See the sound,” 2023.
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