Korean Folk Songs

The music of Korea is over 1000 years old. Isanginstruments of Korea include Kayagum which can be
Yun - a musician teaching in Berlin included Koreanplayed in the solo style, duet and as a group of
songs in his course which was later brought back tothree. The instrument has to be placed on the lap
Korea. Like all other strong influences, war definitelywith the tail on the ground level. Tanso is the wind
had its impact on Korean music. Korean music isinstrument and played along with the flute. The
mostly influenced by shamanistic and Buddhistoriginal bamboo of Tanso is now replaced by resin.
thoughts. The dance, drum and the sinawi danceThe sound produced is pure melody. Yanggum is
music is clearly evident in folk music.made of bamboo and is a string instrument almost as
The Dongbu folk songs are unique in various areasbig as a piano. The fourteen keys which is now
and are typical about the styles. The songs from theincreased to the count of twenty six keys. Most of
Jeolla and chungcheong area are known as Namdothe string instruments of Korea in the contemporary
folk songs. They are full of drama and the collectionsfolk times are made of silken threads.
are tasteful. The Pansori and the Sanjo were createdThere are bowed, plucked and struck varieties in the
out of Namdo music. The music of Jeju from Jejufolk string instruments that encompass the Geum,
Island is simple and rich in their compositions. TheBipa, Sohaegeum and Yangguem. There are flutes,
Pansori is actually a one man show which involveshorns and oboes and mouth organs and also the
dialogues, enactment, dance and a drummer assistsjeok, so, Hwa, Dae piri and Nagak in the wind
with the rhythm for the singer. The Pansori is doneinstrument folk variety. There are other chimes,
at a stretch for eight hours. It is actually required togongs and cymbals of various varieties in the
make the voice hoarse by shouting, so as to becomepercussion musical instruments. Folk songs are still
a Pansori singer. The props include a handkerchief andevident in the villages. Rituals, ceremonies and
fan.festivals mark the occasion with traditional Korean
A troupe of thirty musicians performs the Nongak.folk's songs. Though a evolution is also seen in the
The Sanjo is a tempo based playing whichmaking of musical instruments, traditional Korean folk
accelerates and moves to a high tempo. The musicalsongs bring pure melody.