Music of Korea

The music of Korea refers to music from

the Korean peninsula ranging from
prehistoric times to the divisions of Korea
into South and North in 1945. It includes
court music, folk music, poetic songs, and
religious music used in shamanistic and
Buddhist traditions.
Traditional Korean music is referred to as
gugak, which literally means “national
music”.
History
Proto-Three Kingdoms of Korea
It is believed that Korean people practiced
shamanistic rituals involving music at
agricultural festivals. Tomb murals and
ceramics from this period depict string
instruments with complex features that
suggest the instruments were quite
developed.
Three Kingdoms of Korea
Refers to the period from 57 BCE to 668
CE when the Korean peninsula was ruled by
three kingdoms: Goguryeo, Baekje,and
Silla. Each kingdom was known for
favoring different musical instruments.
Goguryeo
The people of Goguryeo like to sing and
dance. Men and women in the village
throughout the country gather every night to
sing and dance. Surviving from the era
include, “Song of the Turtle”, and “Song of
Nightingales”, the latter of which was sung
by King Yuri of Goguryeo.
Baekje
The only song of Baekje conveyed until
now is Jeongeupsa, but since there are no
specific relics such as the moral tombs of
Goguryeo,it is difficult to grasp what it
would be like. It is evident that Baekje also
celebrated a harvest festival in May and
October similar to that of Goguryeo.
Silla
Before Silla unifieree kingdoms, the music
of Silla is represented by a traditional
instrument, gayageum which was said that
Ureuk from Gaya brought it in the reign of
King Jinheung when his kingdom was
incorporated by Silla forces.
Characteristics
Certain elements in Korean traditional
music are definitely unique from other
musical traditions. Generally Korean music
is described to be melodic. It is based on a
five-tone scale that is not similar with the
western scale. It is usually written in triple
meter or in triple time. This is distinguished
by an articulated or accented third beat. The
Korean Traditional Music
Korean folk music is made up of the various
forms of instrumental and vocal music of the
royal court and the ordinary people. Finally,
religious music covers all the music performed
by the Buddhist and the Shamans.
Presently, Korean musicians and musicologists
classify Korean traditional vocal music as
Jeongak and Mingak or Sogak. Jeongak is
Kinds of Jeongak
1. Gagok- a lyric art song accompanied by a
chamber ensemble.
2. Sijo- a short lyric song
3. Gasa- a long narrative lyric song
Mingak or Sogak
Music of the common people or the
ordinary people. It includes all folk songs or
Minyo, folk instrumental music or Nongak,
shaman music and art music like the
P’ansori and the Sanjo.
Kinds of Sogak
1. Minyo- folk song of the ordinary people sung at
work, for entertainment and funerals.
2. Nongak- music of the farmers that is accompanied
by dance and percussion instruments.
3. P’ansori- a one-man opera of narrative
accompanied by a drum.
Korean Musical Instruments
Korean musical instruments are made from
natural materials like wood, silk strings,
animal skin, and clay. Korean instruments
that are made from non-metallic materials
produce soft and warm sound. This gives
Korean music a warm expression of human
emotions.
Aerophones
a. P’iri is a cylindrical piece of bamboo similar to an
oboe. It is blown through a double-reed mouthpiece.
b. Tanso is a small notched vertical bamboo flute with
five finger holes. It is played by blowing air through
the airhole.
c. Chottdae is a long flute made of bamboo with six
holes. It is often used in court music and in
accompanying the Gagak singer.
Chordophones
a. Kayagum is a twelve-stringed zither similar to the koto of
Japan and Ch’in of China. The string are supported by twelve
movable bridges. It is played by plucking the strings from the
right side using the thumb, forefinger, and the third finger.
b. Komungo is a six-stringed zither that plays as the
principal instrument for a small group of players.it is
played by plucking the strings with a thin straight piece
of bamboo.
c. Haegum- is a two-stringed fiddle made of bamboo
and is played by plucking its string.
Idiophones
a. Kwenggwari is a small gong made of brass. It is played by
striking its surface with a wooden mallet.
b. Pak is a clapper shaped like a folded fan. It consist of six
pieces of wood loosely held together at the upper end by a
cord made from deer skin.
c. Ching is a huge gong played with a padded mallet. It
is used to signify a retreat in the military.
Membranophones
a. Changgo is an hourglass-shaped drum played by striking
its heads.
b. Yonggo is a barrel drum with a painted dragon on its rim. It
is played with two sort-headed mallets and is used in
processions.
c. Bulk is traditional Korean drum that is barrel-shaped. It has
round wooden body that is covered on both ends with animal
skin that is tightly tacked in by the nail in the rim.
Music of Japan
The court music of China made a very significant
influence in Japanese music. This influence evolved
into distinctive musical styles. The adaptation of
instruments and the application of musical theories.
Japanese musical composition are mostly based on
the pentatonic scale.
Characteristics
The Japanese music is based on two types of scale
which are both pentatonic in nature. These are yo-sen
(male scale) and in-sen (female scale) which are often
used in playing the koto and shamisen.
Japanese Vocal Styles
1. Shomyo- vocal style that includes speech and singing. It is
where Japanese vocal music is originated.
2. Zokuyo- popular songs known in Japan. These songs do
not have Western influences.
3. Minyo- the most popular group of songs. Categorized into
work songs, gathering song, festival songs, and children
song.
4. Roei and Saibara- vocal genres of accompanied music
originating from the Heian court from the 9th to 12th century.
Set of songs with simple melodies derived from ancient folk
Japanese Instruments
Aerophones
a. Sho is a 17-piped mouth organ made of bamboo or
wood.
b. Hichiriki is similar to an oboe.
c. Shakuhachi is a flute made from bamboo. It has four
to five holes in front and a thumb hole in the rear face.
Chordophones
a. Shemisen is a flat-backed lute used to accompany
performances like the Kabuki play.
b. Biwa is afour-stringed with frets on the body and
slim tuning pegs.
c. Koto is a two meter long Japanese zither. It has 13
silk strings and is laid on the floor horizontally.
Membranophones
a. Da-daiko is a huge drum suspended on an ornate
frame. It played by striking with heavy lacquered
beaters.
b. Kakko is a large Japanese drum used in gagaku and
taiko ensembles. It is made of deer skin.
c. Tsuri-daiko is a suspended drum with tacked head
and lacquered body.
Idiophone
Shoko is a suspended gong made of bronze and struck
with two sticks.
Reporters:
Pomarejos, Jude Art M.
Docena, Daisy Rose C.

BSED 3-15 TFRI 7:30-9:00