Korean Traditional Music

Korean traditional music is a type of music that is played by people of Korea using Korean musical instruments, either in North Korea or South Korea. In South Korea the term is han-eum-ak jeontong guk (한국 전통 음악) or woof-ak (국악), while in North Korea called minjok eum-ak (민족 음악).

Korean traditional music is divided into some categories :

1         Palace Music

Music palace also called Jeong-ak or appropriate music. Music at the palace is divided into 2 types since the time of kingdom of Silla, which hyang-ak-ak and pliers. Hyang-ak is the original music, and tang-ak Korea is Chinese music from the Tang Dynasty. The unification of the Korean peninsula by Silla allied with Tang in the 8th century, causing the flow of Chinese culture to Korea. In subsequent periods, the Chinese music continues to be named with the term tang-ak despite the change of power in the country

2         Military Music

Chwita military is the type of music being played in the palace when the main gate was opened to welcome the arrival of the king who returned from the trip, also to welcome foreign envoys or military marches. Chwita music played by various types of musical instruments large and dominated by taepyeongso musical instrument that plays the main melody. Chwita music begins with the sound of music leaders who chanted "myonggeum-iha... daechwita!" by lifting his stick.

3         Religious Music

According to Confucius, the music is not right will lead to the downfall of the country. When the basic pitch, milestones of all tones, not tuned properly, it will eventually cause people to suffer. Fundamental basic pitch is called hwangjeong. King Sejong was the first who realized the basic pitch of influence in the Korean music. Yulgwan bamboo pipes that produce basic pitches, not just a musical measure, but it doubles as a daily standard for measuring length, volume, and weight. The length of pipe used as a standard unit of length, the amount of barley (crops) that fit through the pipe is considered as the standard unit of volume and weight of barley is a standard unit of weight. Determination of the length of the pipe yulgwan a serious matter for the kingdom and the people of the Joseon Dynasty. In the 4th century, Buddhism began breathing music used to convey religious purposes. Made Buddhism the state religion by the Goryeo Dynasty (935-1392) and the art of Buddhism is growing rapidly, but only a few written records remaining. Buddhist music is quite a big influence in folk music and nobility. Type gagok sound art have in common with spells in singing technique beompae. Another Buddhist music, yeongsan hoesang, evolving with the game of musical instruments and the orchestra consisted of many different versions. Buddhist music played during the ceremonies can be classified into 3 types :

a)    Yeombul (염불): a type of silk is recited mantras in daily ceremonies by monks at the temple and also called sori anchaebi or indoor track. 

b)   Beompae (범배): is a kind of spell bakkachaebi sori or outdoor tracks are sung during special ceremonies by monks special master Buddhist music. 

c)    Hwacheong (화청): is a kind of mantra chanted the Korean language to spread the Buddha's teachings in a language that is easily understood.

Shamanism is the oldest Korean folk belief that combine elements of ritual worship with music and dance by the leadership of a shaman (mudang or Baksu;무당, 박수). Not only the structure of the ritual, but the style of music and dance forms differ by each region. The parts consist Shamanism music performances and poetry play a musical instrument that is usually performed with dances.

4         Folk Music

Ø  Nongak (농악) is a music game farmers staged by musician group consisting of farmers (nongaktae;농악태). Currently the game music nongak (nongak nori) are based on a variety of activities including a village ritual (gut;굿) military training work activities or purely for entertainment. Nongak have variations based on the region, Gyeonggi nongak jwado nongak udo nongak Honam nongak Samcheonpo nongak uttari nongak and Yeongnam nongak. Nongak Shows can last for several days which includes a music game in the village temples wells houses village office which consists of a parade (Gil-gut;길굿) knocked on the gate (mun-gut;문굿) and walked around the walls of the courtyard of a building (heolsa-gut;헐사굿).

Ø  Samul Nori (사물 노리) is a kind of traditional music that is rooted in the arts roving entertainers entertain groups or Namsadangpae (남사당배) in the past. The group namsadang featuring entertainment in the form nongak dancing and acrobatics to make a living. Samul nori called urban music is distinguished from nongak and roving musical game. In contrast to nongak is displayed by standing and dancing nori samul sit to concentrate played with rhythmic music game.

5         Vocal Music

Vocal music (Seong-ak;성악) is a type of sound art that is displayed by the lyrics of folk tales or folk song.

a)    Need a referral type vocal music is Jeong-ak-ak and Minsok.

b)   Need a referral Jeong-ak divided into sijo gasa and gagok while minsogak divided into japga minyo pansori music Buddhism and Shamanism music.

c)    Need a referral Minyo and pansori is the kind of art that is rooted in the sound of the singing tradition of the common people while chapga sijo gasa and gagok are songs that come from the nobility and the palace. Both types of sound art has different characteristics. the song describes the lives of the masses of the people are honest while the nobility singing voice the feelings and emotions that are not as free as the song of the common people. How to sing songs of both types is also different. tend to sing a folk song lyrics with a range of tones maximum while singing falsetto palace using techniques to achieve a high tone range.

Ø  Minyo (민요) or sori is a type of traditional songs. The term is derived from the combination of the words minyo are Min (people) and Yo (song). Minyo created by musicians who are not known and have been rooted for a long time. This type of sound art bequeath little known texts written and varied on the terms of the region. Korean People sing minyo in simple sentences for a variety of activities such as work, entertainment and funeral. Actually, the term minyo comes from Japanese occupation during which the gramophone was introduced. music-music recorded with a phonograph at the time it was kind of new minyo (sin-minyo;신민요) are shown by professional singers.

Ø  Pansori (판소리) voice is kind of traditional Korean art that uses natural sound to reach the maximum limit with a unique way. Pansori is a type of folk music that is derived from the entertainer since the Joseon Dynasty. The lyrics describe emotional rabble pansori honest and open. When in a state of good feeling, a singer can pansori bernyani for hours, but if not they will just appear one hour.

Ø  Arirang (아리랑) is a kind of folk songs of the most popular in Korea. The song is widely known since the release of the 1926 silent film masterpiece Na Un-gyu is also of the same name, Arirang. Arirang at that moment became a symbol of the independence movement against occupation Japan. version of the song arirang diverse region by region, ranging from Jeongseon arirang, arirang Jindo arirang and Miryang. The origins of arirang known by folklore, but its creator is unknown.

A large volume of research produced by Korean musicians since 1954, based on the study of ancient documents and manuscripts of music as well as the actual music genres such as folk music and pansori. For this reason, the reproduction of audio recording production music manuscripts become very important for the study of Korean music.