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- [ Written by Jeon In-pyeong, Professor of Creative Music, College of Korean Music at Chung-ang University ]
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Korean traditional music is chiefly divided into court music and folk music. The former was deeply associated with the culture of the upper class people, while the latter represented what the common people felt deep inside. Folk music straightforwardly expressed the sentiments felt by the common people in their everyday lives, e.g. farmers sing about rice planting in the spring; widows about their lonely and miserable life; housewives about their difficult married life. Songs they sang touched the heartstrings of the listeners; captivating their hearts when sad and making them want to dance when happy.
In contrast, court music enjoyed by learned people was characterized by its moderation. This had something to do with Confucianism, which was the dominating ideology of the Joseon period. Music was a privileged aspect of culture that upper class of the Joseon period must have as well as a way of self-cultivation. Thus, court music tried not to express grief when grieving or joy when in pleasure. It must remain tranquil and serene without being swayed by emotions.
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Court music makes listeners feel calm and composed as do Oriental ink-and-washing paintings for which only black ink is used. If Western music is like a Western painting whose entire canvas is full of colors, Korean traditional music is more like a Korean landscape painting, with mountains in the distance, old pine trees and rocks in the backdrop, and an old Buddhist monk and an errand boy moving nearby like dots. When compared to medicine, Korean traditional music is like a tranquilizer.
An ink-and-washing Korean painting expresses only the light and dark of black ink, compared to a painting painted with various colors. Korean traditional music feels flat like an ink-and-washing painting. Look at a calligraphic work hung on the wall at home. The artist presses the brush hard on the sheet for the first horizontal stroke, and then gains speed moving the brush. A written letter displays strength with the combination of the act of pressing the brush hard and then moving the brush speedily. A letter displays dynamism when written with the proper amount of black ink and stroke speed.
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Among the Korean traditional music, the Cheongseong Jajin Hannip is played with the danso (short Korean bamboo flute) or daegeum (large Korean flute). At first, it is played powerfully with ornaments. Then, the sound becomes weaker. Again, the melody moves forward straight like the hand stroke in writing a letter in calligraphy. This melody suddenly springs upward and then gradually dies down.
In Korean traditional court music, you can feel the contrast between light and dark and empty space like Cheongseong Jajin Hannip. Listen carefully and you will feel the energetically powerful rhythm of Korean traditional court music.
- Curriculum vitae [ Jeon In-pyeong ]
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- 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
