Korean court music

History#

Korean court music and its origins have been traced as early as the Unified Silla period (668–935); however, the three categories commonly began their spread across Korea during the Goryeo dynasty (918–1392), mainly due to Chinese influence.

Aak#

The genre of aak refers to Korean court ritual music originating from China. This created the growth in popularity for aak within Korea; however, the genre saw an eventual decline afterwards. The Yi dynasty during 1392–1910 then allowed for a completely finalised version of the aak system to rise across Korea, as the year 1430 saw the revival of the genre through a more modern reconstruction of traditional aak melodies. Instruments used within the genre are all of Chinese origin and are mostly used for the purpose of playing aak music, as opposed to being used for other genres of traditional court music. There are only two current surviving melodies of aak, both of which are played very slowly, and last around four minutes. Each piece contains 32 notes, and each note is played for at least four seconds, with the instruments rising in pitch at the end of every note.

Hyangak#

The genre of hyangak refers to court banquet music originating from Korea. Dangak music is typically accompanied with folk dance performances referred to as hyangak chongjae. One of the most important hyangak pieces is referred to as yeomillak. Other hyangak pieces include pollyeong, haeryeong, and boheoja, all of which are performed in Chinese style.

Dangak#

The genre of dangak refers to Chinese court banquet music in Korea. Dangak means ‘Tang music’, as the genre was initially used for Chinese court music which originated during the Tang dynasty. However, during the Goryeo dynasty, dangak was then used to refer to music imported from China both during and after the Tang dynasty. The genre was then split into ubangak; music of the right, and hyangak; music of the left.

Performance#

Korean court performances included traditional banquet dances alongside musical accompaniments. Female court entertainers were called kinyo and kisaeng. Male musicians were separated into four different classes: aksaeng, aggong, kwanhyon maengin, and royal processional musicians.

Aak#

The first recorded performance of aak was at the Royal Ancestral Shrine during the Goryeo period of Korea. Modern aak musical performances are known as munmyo jeryeak or jongmyo jeryeak, which contain two instrumental ensembles; the “terrace” group who play on the porch of the main shrine, and the “courtyard” group, who play near the main entrance of the main shrine. This is typically accompanied by modern dance performances known as munmyo ilmu, which contains two types of dances; a “civil” dance, or a “military” dance, in which 64 dancers perform in an 8 × 8 formation.

Hyangak chongjae#

Hyangak chongjae described banquet dances which were performed alongside hyangak instrumental music. The dance required musicians and entertainers to enter the stage alongside the beat of hyangak music. The entertainers would then pause their dancing, to sing Korean poems. Finally, performers would exit the stage after bowing, which concluded the performance.

Dangak chongjae#

Dangak chongjae described banquet dances which were performed alongside dangak instrumental music. The dance required musicians and entertainers to enter the stage behind pole bearers. The dancers would then read Chinese poems. Finally, performers would exit the stage, concluding the performance.

Court music institutions#

Court music institutions also play a heavy role in assisting musicians with their learning processes of Korean court performances. The first modern theatre built by the royal court was referred to as Hyuomnyulsa. The theatre has since changed its name to Wongaksa. Currently, court music institutions include the National Center for Korean Traditional Performing Arts and the Chongdong Theater, which foster the preservation and appreciation of traditional court music within contemporary society.

Instruments used#

The instruments used in Korean court music vary depending on the specific genre; however, they also show various overlaps between the three categories of aak, hyangak and dangak.

Aak#

Instruments used for aak may include the tungga, honga, pyeonjong, pyongyong, kum, sul, saenghwang, and pak, along with the eight necessary types of materials (metal, stone, silk, wood, bamboo, leather, clay and gourd).

Hyangak#

Instruments used for hyangak may include the geomungo, konghu, gayageum, koto, pipa, taegum chunggum, sogeum, pak, taego, piri, janggu, haegeum, junggeum, daegeum, tang-p’iri, tang-jok, and tang-pip’a.

Dangak#

Instruments used for dangak may include the tango, yogo, janggu, pak, shō, hwengjok, tungso, piri, saeng, tang-pip’a, chang, konghu, panghyang, taego, tang-p’iri, ajaeng, kyobanggo, wolgum, haegeum, taepyeongso, pyeonjong, pyonyong, daegeum, and cholgo.

Cultural influence on contemporary society#

The word for music in the Korean language is eumak, which very closely resembles the word for the traditional Korean court music form aak. In North Korea, traditional court music and performances have mostly died out as a result of the nation’s strong political ideologies. However, traces of its legacy have continued to live on within South Korean culture and as a result, continues to cultivate cultural influence on contemporary South Korean society.

National institutions and associations#

The South Korean government advocates for the preservation of traditional court music within contemporary society. National music institutions such as the National Center for Korean Traditional Performing Arts and the Chongdong Theater, along with associations such as the Korean Music Association and the Korean Vocal Music Association, also contribute to fostering the sustained appreciation of Korean court music within current and future generations.

Contemporary South Korean music#

Popular Korean musicians have also drawn upon Korean court music as sources of inspiration for their songs, such as BTS’ Agust D. Agust D’s “Daechwita” is heavily inspired by and directly named after and samples the Korean royal processional music genre.

See also#

• Akjang, lyrics of court music
• History of Korea
• Korean culture
• Traditional music of Korea
• The National Center for Korean Traditional Performing Arts
• Traditional Korean musical instruments