Changgo

The ''janggu'' (, also transliterated as ''janggo'' or ''changgo'') or sometimes called ''seyogo'' (slim waist drum) is the most representative drum in traditional Korean music. It is available in most kinds, and consists of an hourglass-shaped body with two heads made from animal skin. The two heads produce sounds of different pitch and timbre, which when played together are believed to represent the harmonious joining of Um and Yang. The janggu is one of the four components of samul nori (사물놀이), alongside the buk (북), jing (징) and kkwaenggwari (꽹과리).

History

The earliest depictions of the instrument were inscribed on a bell belonging to the Silla (57 BC–935 AD) period and in a mural painting of the same period in Goguryeo (37 BC–668 AD) tomb. The oldest written records about an hourglass-shaped drum may be traced to the reign of King Munjong (1047–1084) of Goryeo as a field instrument. The Korean record from 1451 titled ''Goryeo-sa'', or History of Goryeo, in chapter 70, records twenty ''janggu'' as the gifts of instruments to be used in the banquet attended by the Song Dynasty Emperor Huizong to the Goryeo Court in Gaeseong in 1114. This book also notes the earliest appearance of the word ''janggu'' in a Korean source. Later in chapter 80, for the year 1076, the term ''janggu-opsa'' (one who plays or teaches the ''janggu'') is used.

Structure

The ''janggu'' may have evolved from the ''yogo'' (; literally "waist drum"), another similar but smaller Korean drum that is still in use today. The ''yogo'' is thought to have originated from the ''idakka'', an Indian instrument introduced to Korea from India during Silla (57 BC–935 AD) period. Evidence of the ''yogo'' was depicted on the mural paintings in the tomb of Jipanhyun of Goguryeo, and from the pictures at the Gameun Temple, the Relics of Buddha, made of bronze in the second year of King Mun (682) during the Unified Silla period. It was during the time of Goryeo that the size of the ''Janggu'' grew to its present-day standard.

''Jorongmok'' is the round tube in the middle connecting the left and right side of the hourglass-shaped body. The size of the ''jorongmok'' determines the quality of the tone: the wider the tube, the deeper and huskier it sounds; the narrower the tube, the harder and snappier it sounds.

The two skin heads are lapped onto metal hoops placed over the open ends of the body and secured by rope counter-loops. The left head (''book'' side) named ''gungpyeon'' is covered with a thick cowhide, horsehide, or deerskin to produce deep and low tones. The right side (''chae'' side) named ''chaepyeon'' is covered with either dog skin or a lighter horsehide to produces higher tones.

There are two kinds of beating sticks (''chae''), namely ''gungchae'' and ''yeolchae''. The ''gungchae'' is shaped like a mallet with a round head. The handle is made from bamboo root, boiled and straightened out and the head is made from hardwood such as birch or antler. Modern ''gungchae'' may also be made from plastic; this variety is normally used by beginning musicians. The ''yeolchae'' is always made from bamboo.

Playing

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''Janggu'' is used throughout traditional Korean instrumental music, such as court music(''궁중음악''), wind music(''풍류음악)'', folk music(''민속음악)'' and shamanistic music(''무속음악)'', as well as traditional performing arts divisions such as vocal music and dance and Yeonhui(''연희)''.

Nongak(Pungmul), which only plays percussion instruments, serves to make the rhythms of percussion music colorful by playing finely divided rhythms of the combined notes of several percussion instruments.

Traditionally the ''janggu'' is played using ''yeolchae'' on the right hand high pitch area and uses the bare hand on the low pitch area. Such an example can be seen on ''pungmul'' players for a number of folk songs and shamanistic rituals. But today, it is common to see the use of ''gungchae'' and ''yeolchae'' together. 'Gungchae' is used to play the low pitch side. With ''yeolchae'', you can make the sound '''tta(따)','' and with ''gungchae'' sound '''gung(궁)'''. When you use it at the same time, you can make the sound '''deong(덩). ''Janggu'' can be played on the floor such as for traditional sanjo music or carried with a strap on the shoulder. The way performers carry the Janggu differs from person to person, from region to region and varies depending on his or her taste.

The ''janggu'' is usually classified as an accompanying instrument because of its flexible nature and its agility with complex rhythms. Since the performer can use his or her hands as well as sticks, various sounds and tempi, deep and full, soft and tender, and loud sounds, and fast and slow beats, can be created to suit the mood of the audience. Using this ability, a dextrous performer can dance along moving his or her shoulders up and down to the rhythm.

Sound

See also

*Hourglass drum
*Traditional Korean musical instruments
*Korean music

References

*Nathan, Hesselink (2006).P'ungmul: South Korean Drumming and Dance. University of Chicago Press.

External links

Janggu : Official Seoul City Tourism

Video

''Janggu'' video

Sound

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Korean musical instruments
Drums
Military music