Lesson 3

THE BEAUTY OF KOREAN MUSIC

The Beauty Of Korean Music

Korea is an Asian country that has a

culture that has been affected by cultures from the neighboring countries like Japan and China. Despite of these influences, Korea has maintained its uniqueness and genuine culture. Korean music is a combination of music in China and Japan.

 Korea is a country divided in to two

parts: the North and the South. These two parts have different forms of governments and beliefs. They have been separated after WWII and got their independence on 1948 after the northern part was dominated by USSR and the south by the United States. Note: Before these happenings, these two parts were two but one.

Periods of Korean Civilization

In the history of Korean civilization, the

political and cultural developments are divided into different periods. The periods are: 1. Three Kingdoms Period (57 B.C.-A.D. 668) 2. Unified Silla Period (668-935) 3. Koryo (Gorgeo 918-1392) 4. Choson (Joseon 1392-1910) 5. Modern Period (1910-present)

 During these periods are milestones in

the development of their political system and as well as culture. Korea has rich ORAL TRADITIONS that consist of lyric folk songs, shaman chants, myths, legends and folktales. The Korean FOLK SONGS are many and these include ceremonial, work songs and popular songs about everyday life. ARIRANG Korean popular folk song

 Accompaniments were also given to lyrical and narrative folk songs using percussive instruments like drums, gongs and

cymbals. The oboe or instrument was also used.

double-reed

Korean Traditional Songs

1. Pansori is a lengthy narrative that run

through several episodes and can continue for several hours. Its is both spoken and sung and accompanied by the beat of hourglass drum.

Korean Traditional Songs

2. Shaman music is a ritual music that

accompanies chants intended to induce or trance, stale in the shaman (mudang) a religious figure who is thought to convene spirits

Korean Traditional Songs

3. Chong-ak is a court music dine for the

ruling class and performed and expressed in a more refined and elegant manner. The tempo is slow and gives a feeling of serenity.
Types of Chong-ak: a. A-ak type of music used inside the palace b. Mingan Chong-ak type of music used outside the palace

Korean Traditional Songs

4. Song-ak music for nobility. It is the

music for the common people. This includes Shamans, Buddhist, farmers and other folks. This type of music can be described by its dramatic form of music called SANJO which is colorful in melody and lively in rhythm.

Types of Korean Music

1. Kagok is a long lyrical song 2. Kasa is a slow narrative song 3. Sijo A musical rendition of the Korean

sijo poem 4. Sandae-guk it feature complex dance drama from shamanism using songs that are based from folk music. It is a mountain performance.

 Korean music has been affected by China

and Japan's cultures. The principles of Confucius regarding literature and traditions can be seen and felt on the form of Korean Music. Buddhism is one of the great influence over Korean songs and even Japanese culture being a neighboring country. In the 1800s Western influences began to be introduced and by 1910 to 1945 during the colonial rule, the traditions of Korea were strongly discouraged by the Japanese

 After WWII, Korea divided into two

parts namely, the South and the North. After the post-war from 1950-1952, these two land parts of Korean Peninsula had their ways separated. Despite of the separation, Korean had maintained the kind of culture they had before and the true identity of their civilization.