Sugungga is one of the five surviving stories of ‘pansori’, a Korean genre of musical storytelling performed by a vocalist and a drummer. It is based on an early Silla Dynasty (57BC-935AD) story involving a dragon king, turtle, and a wily rabbit. The overall character of the Sugungga drama is considered to be more dynamic and farcical than the other pansori plays because of its personification of animals. PAN Project’s version of Sugungga is an improvisational interpretation of the original story. Instead of following the music structure of the traditional pansori vocal-percussion score, our version interprets the five major scenes from story through vocal and instrumental improvisation that captures an impression of the characters and drama of each scene: from the dragon king’s desire and selfishness for immortality to the rabbit’s cunning and wisdom, to the tension, wit and ultimate joy that unfolds over the course of the turtle’s and rabbit’s adventures.
Synopsis: The Dragon King of the Southern Sea is ill. The only cure is a thousand year old rabbit’s liver. The king summons all of his ministers to look for the rabbit on the mainland. Of all ministers, only the loyal turtle volunteers. He travels to land and lures the rabbit back to the sea palace under false pretense. When the rabbit realizes the king plans to take his liver, the rabbit tricks the king by saying he left his liver back on land.
lyrics
Vocal Text:
아니리: 이 이야기는 아주 먼 옛날 수궁 세상 속 영덕전에서 비롯된 것이라.
용왕이 우연 득병하야 주야로 고민타가
뜻밖의 해결책을 얻는디, 바로 육지에 사는 토끼의 생간이 명약이라.
이에 별주부 자라가 용왕의 명을 받고 굳은 결의로 세상을 나오는디,
토끼 역시 만만치 않은 놈이렷다.
Narrator: This story takes place a long time ago in the world of Sea Palace (Sugung), Young-Deok Jeon. The Dragon King fell ill and was troubled, but found an unexpected solution. The best medicine for his ailments was a rabbit’s liver. So a turtle was ordered by the Dragon King to find a rabbit’s liver. He left for the land world with a firm determination.The rabbit is a clever and tough guy…
용왕: 네 이놈! 토끼야~ 너 죽노라 한을 마라. 여봐라~ 간을 더운김에 소금 찍어 올리도록 허여라~
Dragon King: Hey man! Rabbit, Don’t feel sorry for dying. Allow me to put salt on the liver while it’s hot.
토끼: 오메! 용왕님! 지금 간이 없다니까요! 저~~ 멀리 계수나무 끝끝터리에 꽁꽁 싸매 두고 왔단 말이오!
Rabbit: Oh my lord, Dragon King! I have no liver right now! I mean, I left it wrapped tightly around the tip of the cassia tree far away on land!
별주부: “이보시오 토선생! 내 앞을 서 갈테니 토선생은 내 등에 엎져 세상 밖으로 속히 가십시다!”
Turtle: Rabbit! I’ll stand in front of you, fall on my back and I’ll get you out of this kingdom quickly.
용왕: 여봐라!
Dragon King: Hey!
토끼: 나는 간 없소!
Rabbit: I don’t have a liver!
별주부: 아니오!
Turtle: No!
용왕: 여봐라!
Dragon King: Hey!
토끼: 나는 간 없소!
Rabbit: I don’t have a liver!
별주부: 아니오!
Turtle: No!
credits
from PAN Project,
released September 17, 2021
Sae-yeon Jeong, vocals; gamin, piri/saenghwang/taepyeongso; Ned Rothenberg, shakuhachi & bass clarinet; Ying-Chieh Wang, erhu; Jeff Roberts, guqin; Woonjung Sim, janggu
The six members of PAN Project Ensemble – each renowned masters in their own right – are spread across the USA, Canada, and East Asia and bring the full weight of their cultural perspectives to this musical summit.
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