Traditional music of Korea
Korea has produced music (Korean: 음악; Hanja: 音樂; RR: eumak; MR: ŭmak) for thousands of years, into the modern day.
[5] According to the Korean historical record Samguk sagi, written in 1145, the geomungo was invented by prime minister Wang San-ak, who had received a Chinese zither called a guqin as a gift.
[10] Notably, a man of Baekje named Mimaji (미마지) learned music and dance in China and emigrated to Japan in 612.
These figures are found in history books, Goryeosa as a court ballet performance consisting of hyangak and dangak in subcategories of Korean music.
The Buddhist chant, Beompae (hangul 범패, hanja 梵唄) was widely adopted with variety of instruments, forming a unique art of Silla.
[19] Most of Goryeo songs were recorded in Akhak gwebeom after the 15th century of which features were the lyrics of the Korean language, different from those of previous eras.
[20][self-published source] As Yi Seong-gye founded Joseon in 1392, the dynasty adopted anti-Buddhism and pro-Confucianism which affected the musical pattern of Yeak (예악; 禮樂).
Although some scholars like Jeong Do-jeon made several songs for celebrating the initial moments of Joseon, the notation followed the trends of Goryeo.
Joseon periods saw considerable developments of its music during the reign of Sejong which were largely attributable to a musician Park Yeon.
[21] Park firstly established an independent organ of music and created Korean-style notation including Jeonganbo (en Hangul: 정간보).
[24] After the middle of its period, what-so-called middlemen (중인, Jungin) came to play diverse instruments mixing lyric poems and long cyclical songs.
[25] Because of two damaging wars, the culture of Joseon went through a series of hardships which resulted in the loss of instrumental music and songs in court and also a royal shrine.
Although it is hard to grasp exact points of its evolution, the oral tradition of this genre came to be followed by musical experts only to expand its sphere not only to commoners but also to aristocrats.
[30] In 1894, Joseon government dispatched ten court musicians to Boston Exposition in the United States to build an independent foundation.
[citation needed] After the collapse, Korean court music found almost no way to make celebrations and rituals, which was replaced with marching songs.
In this traditional art form, sometimes rather misleadingly called 'Korean Opera',[24] a narrator may play the parts of all the characters in a story, accompanied by a drummer.
[34] The National Theatre of Korea provides monthly opportunities to experience traditional Korean narrative songs or Pansori.
Notably, Hwang established a new type of sanjo genre that involved in the repertory of gayageum on the basis of aiming to identify and explain distinctive musical features and creativity.
[33] Vocals performed in jeongak are normally sung in a style of kagok (가곡), which is for mixed male and female singers and is accompanied by a variety of instruments.
The organization of nongak varies according to locality and performing groups, and today there are a great number of regional styles and involvement of many instruments.
[47] The word Aak is the Korean pronunciation of two hanja characters, which indicate the equivalent form of yayue in Chinese and gagaku in Japan.
[48] Since Confucius used this term to distinguish elegant and beneficial music from the melodies without harmony, it enjoyed favorable status during Joseon.
[48] Aak is considered a special type of court music in specific ritual ceremonies[48] at very rare concerts, such as the Sacrifice to Confucius in Seoul.
[55] Yongbieocheonga, Songs of the Dragons Flying to Heaven represents its uniqueness as hyangak, which was originally tuned to various notes and lyrics but the text was lost and purely instrument rhythm left.
Percussion court includes the pyeongjong (bronze bells), pyeongyeong (stone chimes), chuk (square wooden box with mallet) and eo (tiger-shaped scraper).
