News

The Korean Evening “Maum Percussion” with Chang Jae Hyo in July 2025 brought the renowned Korean percussionist back to Bayreuth – following his performances at the Cluster’s 2019 inaugural concert and the 2025 Afrika-Karibik Festival with MangrOOve – offering audiences an intimate exploration of rhythm, reflection and intercultural musical dialogue.

On 14 July 2025, the Africa Multiple Cluster of Excellence presented an evocative evening of rhythm and reflection with Maum Percussion – A Percussive Exploration of the Heart, featuring the acclaimed Korean percussionist Chang Jae Hyo. Organised by Prof. Dr. Ute Fendler and held at Kulturhaus Neuneinhalb, the event offered audiences a rare opportunity to experience a performance that combines tradition, emotion and shared rhythm in an intimate setting.

The performance is inspired by the Korean concept of maum (마음), a nuanced term that may refer to heart, mind, soul, inner self or feeling. In Korean philosophy and everyday language, maum points to an integrated understanding of emotion and consciousness rather than a strict separation between intellect and feeling. Through percussion pieces built on clear and often minimal rhythmic structures, Chang invites listeners to turn inward and, at the same time, connect with others in the room. Rhythm becomes more than sound – it becomes a form of emotional communication and collective presence. Rooted in Korea’s rich percussion traditions, particularly those associated with communal and ritual performance, Maum Percussion emphasises resonance, breath, repetition and subtle variation. The focus is not on virtuosic display alone, but on creating a shared sonic space in which audiences can experience attentiveness, intensity and quiet reflection.

Throughout the evening, Chang also shared personal reflections and explanations between the individual pieces, offering insight into the musical structures and the philosophical background of maum. His words were masterfully translated from Korean into German by Maira Fendler, whose sensitive and precise interpretation ensured that the audience could fully engage with both the artistic and conceptual dimensions of the performance.

About the Artist

Chang Jae Hyo is a renowned Korean percussionist and vocalist whose work is deeply grounded in traditional music while remaining open to contemporary experimentation. He began his professional career as a member of the influential percussion ensemble Puri before embarking on a solo career in 2000. Since then, he has developed a distinctive artistic voice that combines technical precision with expressive depth. Performing primarily on traditional instruments such as the janggu, Chang explores tone, dynamics and spatial sound in ways that highlight the emotional and spiritual dimensions of rhythm. His projects often move between concert performance, improvisation and cross-cultural collaboration, reflecting his ongoing interest in dialogue across musical traditions.

His artistic connection with the Africa Multiple Cluster of Excellence dates back several years. In October 2019, he participated in the Cluster’s inaugural concert World Music in Fusion – An Evening at the Margravial Opera House, contributing to a remarkable intercultural performance at the UNESCO World Heritage site in Bayreuth. This earlier collaboration laid the foundation for his continued engagement with the Cluster’s artistic programme. Chang’s return to Bayreuth in July 2025 was closely linked to his participation in the Afrika-Karibik Festival on 19 July. At the festival, he performed as part of the group MangrOOve, contributing Korean percussion to a vibrant, intercultural musical setting that brought together artists from different regions and traditions. In light of this collaboration, the Africa Multiple Cluster of Excellence invited him, along with other artists, to come to Bayreuth again.

The Korean Evening provided an opportunity to hear him once more during his stay – this time in a more focused and contemplative concert format. While the festival performance placed his music within a large open-air celebration, Maum Percussion offered a contrasting space for attentive listening and deeper engagement. By connecting festival participation with a dedicated concert evening, the Cluster underscored its commitment to fostering sustained artistic exchange. Events such as these demonstrate how music can open spaces for intercultural dialogue, reflection and shared experience beyond geographical and disciplinary boundaries.