Column
Home>Hanguk-Eumaki>Things to Know
- [Written by Jeon In-pyeong, Professor of Creative Music, College of Korean Music at Chung-ang University]
-
One cannot talk of Korean traditional music without ‘tension and relaxation’. Dr. Lee Hye-gu, a researcher specializing in Korean traditional music, once interviewed Mr. Sim Sang-geon, a devoted gayageum (12-stringed Korean zither) player who performed during the Japanese occupation. During his interview he asked, “You have devoted your life to the playing of sanjo (a style of Korean traditional music). What’s so special about sanjo?” After a moment of thinking, he said, “Well, I would say it’s the tension and relaxation”.
It is not easy to become an expert in any field. Especially, when it comes to gayageum sanjo, you cannot become a master performer with only techniques. You should have reached a stage in life where you have experienced and overcome all bitter feelings and look at life with the composure of mind to be able to play the gayageum sanjo properly. Thus, it is difficult for a young person to convey the genuine sound of the sanjo, however excellent his/her techniques may be.
Sim devoted his life to gayageum sanjo and was regarded the best of the best in terms of both skills and techniques. His answer, “I would say it’s the tension and relaxation” and not aesthetic tunes or various vocal sounds shows that he is a genuine master. In contrast to Western musical esthetics that attempt to explain music analytically, he shows that he sees music as an object that requires an overall harmonization of tension. No matter how great the performer is, music loses vitality if tension and relaxation are not properly contrasted.
- “Tension and relaxation” refers to the contrast of the strength applied. In music, tension is important in the composition of melodies and rhythms as well as the quality of sound. Compared to ‘stag’ of Western music, one batang (cycle) of Korean traditional music is very long. The rhythm of tension and relaxation becomes an important factor establishing the external framework of Korean traditional music, as it is necessary to perform a long piece of music without harmony. Especially, in pansori and sanjo, the dynamism of rhythms is particularly important.
-
Sanjo is composed of 5 different tempos - jinyangjo, jungmori, jungjungmori, and jajinmori - beginning with a slow tempo and accelerating to faster tempos. Sanjo begins with a slow tempo called jinyangjo. Jungmori is a medium tempo, jungjungmori is faster than jungmori, and jajinmori is a faster tempo. Jajinmori is a tempo that makees listeners feel pressed as if a young child is ‘letting out a shrill cry’. Originated from the word ‘hwimorachida (blowing boisterously)’, hwimori is the fastest tempo.
-
Jinyangjo, jungmori and hwimori are terms indicating the rhythm speed. They are also used as the name of each movement in sanjo. In each movement, tension and relaxation is repeated, gradually heightening tension. The moment of the highest tension comes right before the end of sanjo. In hwimori, the music is played very rapidly as if the strings are about to be cut, making listeners feel the tension. Then, the tempo slows down and the music stops in a very slow and short tune. In this part called doseop, the rhythm of janggu continues in a fast tempo of hwimori despite the slow melody of the sanjo, creating an exquisite atmosphere.
-
The tension and relaxation of the sanjo has something to do with Asians’ philosophy of yin and yang. An analysis of its most basic rhythm will tell you that it is composed of motions of pushing and pulling, and tying and untying. One may think they might have tried to discover the meaning of the life in harmony between yin and yang as they might have tried to find the true meaning of life in harmony between slow and fast, as they attempted to find.
-
Sanjo is similar to our life. There are times when we live a busy life, and there are times when we can afford to enjoy some leisure times. The contrast of tension and relaxation is not limited to only music. As in music, we experience continued moments of tension and relaxation in our everyday lives, in our relationships with friends or other family members and in all cultural and social phenomenon. Even problems in politics or international relations can be settled in terms of tension and relaxation. It can be said that the tension and relaxation of music explains our lives.
- Curriculum vitae [ Jeon In-pyeong ]
-
- Gugak musician
- Served as Chung-Ang University, Dean of College of Korean Music.
- Currently, Director, Chung-Ang Music Institute, Chung-Ang University
- Professor at Chung-ang University, College of Korean Music
