Cheon Gil-ryang, a Vocal Performer,

who Develops Modern Music in JeonBuk

Han Seongcheon

(JeonBuk domin il bo)

Pioneer who popularizes music in Jeonbuk

The reason why Cheon Gil-ryang sows seeds of modern music is to overcome Korean War’s hurts. In 1950. 10. 24., was opened in auditorium of I-ri girls’ middle school. In this music festival, he sang the , and so on with his colleague in solo and duet. In following year tenor Cheon Gil-ryang’s vocal recital was opened in Kunsan.

Vocal performer who first songs , a public song

(The rest is omitted)

After 1965, his was more perked. He held vocal recital in three times a year and primordially found the city chorus of Jeonju. He planed that he would organized the number of member about 60. In 1965. 4. 15., contest was performed to recruit a choir member. And practice was continued. Finally, in 1966. 6. 1. concert of city chorus of Jeonju for foundation was flourishingly held. Because of first fruition for popularization of modern music, it was evaluated in historical stage that he marked a new era in history of Jeonbuk music.

That day, Jeon han-sang, a mayer of jeonju, who participated in concert of city chorus of Jeonju for foundation said that “city chorus of Jeonju is founded and concert is performed. Thank you for professor Cheon Gil-ryang. So I wish city chorus of Jeonju could develop more.” Each newspaper and broadcast announced many articles.

There was no difficulty about popularization of modern music. Though concert of city chorus of Jeonju came to an end, the 2nd concert was held in 1966. 6. 12. at Korea Cinema. Newspaper also reported the title of . He who knew the probability of success also performed the concert at Jeola Art Festival. Next year, in 1967. 6. 12., he held the 3rd concert at Cultural Center of Jeonju for Citizen. The result was very successful.

He also performed a charity concert and exchanged concert with the chorus of Kwanggu and Kunsan. The citizen of Jeonju paid his tributes of praise to the love of music and popularization.

Extending the territory of chorus up to community of women

He founded . In 1969. 5. 10., the stage was performed in cultural center of Jeonju for citizen. He also extended the stage of the chorus of Jeonju for mothers into nation. To visit the central broadcasting station, they came up to Seoul and suddenly came on the stage. He conducted the chorus and the stage were broadcasted with TV broadcast. And he conducted like a demon. The chorus first performed the stage not in Jeonbuk but in other regions in history of Jeonbuk music. After stage of KBS, a reputation was extended about them. When they visited the center of the freedom, they requested improvisation. There was no reason to reject it. He and the chorus of Jeonju for mothers appeared on the stange. The center of the freedom recorded on video and this performance was broadcasted on and screened in national cinema.

Like this, he developed that he dreamed. Everytime city chorus of Jeonju and chorus of Jeonju for mothers that he conducted moved and performed, they made the news. Everyone who was indifferent to the music also enjoyed the music.

Building the system of Jeonbuk music

His activity was gradually extended. In 1970, he founded including vocal, instrumental music and composition and assumed the first president of the association. And he held a concert of spring and autumn in 1970.5.22. at the cultural center of Jeonju for citizen.

He tried to get closer to common people to let them know the foreign traditional folk song and opera such as Italy. In 1974. 11. 12., he held at the Bongraewon wedding hall and explained modern music at the university, coffee shop, and restaurant. He regularly appeared in the classic program and explained the opera, musical, and the foreign folk songs. He also led the association of music in Jeonbuk for 13 years and systematized the musical world of the Jeonbuk. During his term of office as a president of the musical association in Jeonbuk, he consistently held the regular and special concert, and concert of the musical appreciation. And he also acted as vice president of Korea musical association.

Making every effort to the musical education and training the musician

As soon as he graduated the department of music in Seoul national university, he was persuaded as a professor. But he selected and came down his home. At that time, because department about musical education did not exist in university, he selected the musical teacher in high school. And he taught middle and high school about modern music. Among the musician of Jeonbuk, he had the most person who he trained in Jeonbuk.

When he taught the music in middle and high school, a educational university attached to the Jeonbuk national university was opened and he was appointed the assistant professor. After 1 year, in 1963.3, the establishment about the department of music was primarily approved in Jeonju national university of education and he was appointed as a professor. Targeting pre-teacher, he who moved to Jeonju national university of education trained bel canto, a kind of singing method. To popularize bel canto and develop the vocal music in Jeonbuk, he organized with a student and the younger generation as the central figure and the association has led today.

Cheon gil-ryang, elected the 8th at Korea art association as a branch manager of Jeonbuk

He was elected as the 8th a branch manager of Jeonbuk at Korea Art Association. He suggested the task of main priority about . He said that he would change the basis of a community not the association of artist but the inhabitants of Jeonbuk. Especially, he targeted during his incumbency. So he had a the inhabitants of Jeonbuk at the back. He was a main person who constructed the art hall of Jeonbuk.

Leading construction of Jeonbuk Art Hall that every artist desired

In 1974, he started . Though the issue of about the construction was a wish of the artist and members, this issue could not be accomplished. To solve the problem, he made a proposition about the construction to governor. Governor agreed it and he donated 1,000,000 won. He also raised construction fund autonomously. Many concert shows, and exhibitions were held to raise construction fund.

In this two part series, Korea art association of Jeonbuk will perform in their first business at the Jeonbuk field house, and hold that appear human cultural assets of Sin gyeol-dong and 11 people.

Meanwhile, Hwang in-sung, honorary chairman of promotion committee of construction of Jeonbuk Art Hall, donated 1,000,000 won and associated artists gathered fund. Finally fund about 1,300,000 is gathered. But it was difficult for only artists to gather up to 50,000,000 won.(a part of report in Jeonbuk news paper)

He continually emphasized construction of Jeonbuk art hall. And he encouraged participation of associated artists and inhabits of Jeonbuk. Many artists participated in his enthusiastic movement about the construction of Jeonbuk art hall. The association of folk song and art participated in this activity. The board of directors was set up and talked about business plan. And then, they determined .

To construct the Jeonbuk art hall, began in Korea art association’s gallery in 1974.11. Cheon gil-ryang who assumed chair person of the promotion committee encouraged participation to authors to hold the art exhibition. So in 5 parts, 65 authors donated their pieces. In the second business, art exhibition was given weight in the donation to a fund raising. 65 people participated in this art exhibition. Among them, artists who were born in Jeonbuk also made an exhibit.

Cheon gil-ryang, a everlasting tenor vocalist

He claimed development of cultural arts in Jeonbuk and popularization of modern music and he was a everlasting tenor vocalist. He tried not to lose the root as singer acting the culture to train the singer and popularize modern music, prosecuting the construction that was the art world’s long-cherished wish, and systematizing music world in Jeonbuk through management of the association of music in Jeonbuk. Since the first vocal recital in 1951, he have continually kept his vocal recital, holding a various concert. In 1975, he held the 7th vocal recital in Jeonju citizen hall, and in 1977, he held the 8th vocal recital in the same area. He also held in the I-ri girls’ high school. And he presented the folk song of Italy, Europe, Korea in the way of his bel canto.

Cheon gil-ryang, who was never forgotten as a head chief of Jeonbuk’s music world

He, a singer and teacher, invested a his total life for music, training a singer, and enjoying everyone. Because of his illness, he passed away in 1988.3.9. and he was 65 years old. Because he who liked , , and has been healthy, music and Jeonbuk cultural world didn’t believe his death.

Musicians and artists who loved and respected him organized to praise his traces in the music, cultural and art world in Jeonbuk. The committee was composed of many people such as university professor and musician. Many organizations also donated that committee. The media also broadcasted his death in the mass medias.

Defunctive tenor and professor Cheon gil-ryang who leaved traces the music will hold in art hall of Jeonbuk. This concert will be held by him who invested his all life as a music teacher, and singer. And this concert will be composed of his friends, junior colleagues, and so on.

This events are the first tribute concert in Jeonbuk and will appear in Daejeon evergreen a chamber orchestra and Jeonju citizen orchestra. Especially, Lee Gee-ban who is be in an office Jeonju university professor will read and baritone Kim Dong-sik will sing