A special concert featuring traditional musical instruments of Korea and ten ASEAN member countries were held under the title of “A Beautiful Harmony of ASEAN and ROK’s Traditional Music” at the ACH Hall of the ASEAN Culture House in Busan on Wednesday, August 29, 2018.

Co-hosted by the Korea Foundation ASEAN Culture House and the Asia Culture Center, the concert presented the Asia Traditional Orchestra, composed of traditional music players from Korea and ten ASEAN member countries – Brunei, Cambodia, Laos, Indonesia, Malaysia, Myanmar, the Philippines, Singapore, Thailand and Vietnam.

Consisting of traditional musical instruments of ASEAN and Korea only, the orchestra was founded on the occasion of the 2009 ASEAN-Republic of Korea Commemorative Summit with an aim of creating “one Asia through music.”

Moderated by Artistic Director Choi Sang-hwa of the Asia Traditional Orchestra, the concert was composed of introductions to 24 traditional musical instruments of Korea and ten ASEAN member countries, playing of melodies, joint performances of national anthems of participating countries, and audience’s instrument trials.

The concert served as an occasion to enjoy the folk music of ASEAN as well as Korea’s representative folk song Arirang. As a finale, the orchestra played “One Asia,” enabling the audience to fully appreciate diverse harmony played on traditional musical instruments of the eleven Asian countries.