Ben Mandelson, WOMEX Founding Director and member of WOMEX Supervisory Board,

he talks about WOMEX 10 Opening: "The Chaosmos of Korean Music: Heaven, Earth and Human" with Baramgot, Tori Ensemble and Be-Being, Copenhagen, Denmark, October 27, 2010.

WOMEX [http://www.womex.com], whose 16th edition took place in Copenhagen, Denmark (October 27-31, 2010), is the world’s biggest professional music Conference, Trade Fair and Showcase for World, Roots, Folk, Ethnic, Traditional, Local and Diaspora music. It is a Europe-based event which runs through the last October weekend of every year.  The forthcoming edition - edition 17 - will also take place in Copenhagen during the period, October 26– 30, 2011 before moving to its next location for 2012.

WOMEX is the hub of world music professionals from all over the globe, and 2010’s edition welcomed 2,440 delegates from 94 countries, 650 exhibiting companies at 260 stands, plus 59 Showcase acts on 6 stages and over 20 Conference Sessions and 14 Film Screenings.

There has been a committed Korean presence at WOMEX through its years of growth and travel, and this year WOMEX was proud to welcome a special, exclusive event that was organised for the prestigious WOMEX 10 Opening: three of the finest bands on the contemporary Korean music scene presenting "The Chaosmos of Korean Music: Heaven, Earth and Human" revealing innovative renditions of traditional Korean music. The project was supported by the Ministry of Culture, Sport and Tourism of the Republic of Korea; Korea Arts Management Service; and the Embassy of South Korea in Denmark. This wonderful presentation was not only the Opening of WOMEX, but in many ways was an Opening to Korea itself. For many delegates, and for the public who also attended the Concert, this was the first opportunity to see, hear and experience Korean music.

But before describing the Opening Concert at WOMEX 2010, let me say that these kinds of imaginative shows do not happen ‘overnight’. When the idea of a Korean Opening came up – certainly as a fruit of the visit of WOMEX/Roskilde partner’s Peter Hvalkof to PAMS [Performing Arts Market, Seoul, 2009] – the WOMEX team, including Peter, discussed and met with representatives of the KAMS team to see what programme could be crafted to show as much as possible, in a balanced way…in one concert slot! What a responsibility: but with a great result.
As the plans started to take shape - for the Concert, and for the WOMEX conference panel and film-screening to complement it - I was fortunate enough to be invited to visit the PAMS 2010 in October 2010. I can see why this event has had such an impact on the ‘club’ of delegates who meet each other in the privileged situation of a guided introduction to aspects of Korean music. We are introduced to the key Chang-dan concept: the rhythmic cycle that underlies much Korean music, and which relates to the yin/yang principle – that of finding balance, a process which is often felt in music through the use of tension and release. Our hosts take us to various locations, including traditional wooden houses and rooms, to help us appreciate the ambience which not only provides a way to appreciate the music, but is actually integral to the performance. We encounter pansori, sinawi, sanjo, gagok, gukak, and their influence and presence throughout contemporary Korean artistic expression. We also meet our Korean professional counterparts and the other international delegates too!
The PAMS Opening ceremony on October 12, 2010 offered to the PAMS delegates a short preview showcase of the artists chosen for WOMEX. Then, some weeks later…Wednesday evening, October  27, 2010 in the spec-tacular Danish Radio Koncerthuset, "The Chaosmos of Korean Music: Heaven, Earth and Human" is pre-sented. Why ‘Chaosmos’? We are told - according to ancient Korean texts, that the universe originated from sounds. Consequently, Korean music is a kind of “chaosmos” – a combination of “cosmos” and “chaos” com-prising the the universe’s key elements – heaven, earth and humans. Tonight Baramgot represented The Music of Human, Tori Ensemble The Music of Heaven and Be-Being represented The Music of Earth.

Each of the these groups is able to move effortlessly through the ways of the deepest traditional and spiritual performance, to an area which is contemporary, and would be equally at home on the stages of world, ‘new music’ and improvising spaces. Gracious introductions and speeches are offered, and then shaman Kim Dongun filled the Hall with her singing.

The stage was set with enough space for all artists to perform (no break-up changeovers), enabling the complete show to work in a narrative line: the dynamic Baramgot took the stage, and offered precise and emotional progressive sinawi gut, with leader Won Il on piri (oboe) in a performance of Chaeolilm. Our eyes moved across the stage and we met the Tori Ensemble, whose first piece offers a rolling ‘bluesy’ piri, and whose second starts with harmonics on the strings of geomungo zither heralding deep singing with intense janggo drumming. Geomungo master Heo Yoon-Jeong shows the angular poise and beauty, and extensive timbral subtlety of the instrument.

Be-being take the role of Earth-music providers, and do it with style, offering a changing pattern of sonic and rhythmic texture, using a contemporary ‘new music’ aesthetic as strong as their traditional one. Their second piece, with drums, conch and long trumpet, marked by chords and vocals, has a rocking triplet groove. Then, two cymbal-waving dancing monks, exhibiting the most beautiful movement and control, whirl in slow-motion with only the most delicate brushing-together of the cymbals. The audience is captivated by their calm and silent strength.
And for the promised Finale: the shaman pair, then all three bands in a mass presentation, a celebratory jam session – of the classic Arirang (a meeting in sound described as ‘a conversation among heaven, earth and mankind’ enabling the three key elements of the concert to be united).
Tonight’s concert: A strong statement of artistic wealth and intent, an indication that music – its sound, presence and performance – can work on many levels to unite cultural, philosophical and entertainment purposes in seamless ways without compromise. In short, a wonderful way to open edition 16 of WOMEX.

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Ben Mandelson
Born in Liverpool, living in London, UK,  Ben Mandelson is a leading freelance record producer and consultant working worldwide in all areas of World Music. Co-founder and house producer for UK’s GlobeStyle Records label, for whom he produced recordings on most continents. Ben’s in-demand production expertise has been used by many companies. Active as a musician, he was a founding member of the world music cult band 3 Mustaphas 3 and is Founding Director and current supervising board-member of the premier worldmusic tradefair WOMEX