Korean court music

Korean court music comprises three main musical genres: ''aak'', an imported form of Chinese ritual music; a pure Korean form called '' hyangak''; and a combination of Chinese and Korean styles called '' dangak''.

Korean court music and its historical origins have been traced back to the ''Goryeo'' ''(918-1392)'' and ''Joseon'' dynasties ''(1392–1910)''. It was partly modelled on the court music of China, known as ''yayue''. Korean court music also has similarities with the court music of Japan, known as ''gagaku'' and of Vietnam, known as '' nhã nhạc''.

Performances in the form of banquet dances typically accompany the court music, in which musical institutions play a role in teaching and training musicians and performers on the forms of traditional Korean dance. The instruments used in Korean court music vary depending on the specific genre, but do show various overlaps between the three different types. Traditional court music also continues to show significant cultural influence on contemporary society in South Korea, through government, national music associations, and forms of popular culture such as South Korean 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. Aak means '''elegant music. It is similar to ''dangak'' as both genres are of Chinese origin. The types of Chinese court music within the ''aak'' genre included Korean royal processional music; referred to as '' daechwita'', ''munmyoak''; Confucian shrine music, ''chongmyoak''; also known as royal ancestral shrine music, ''hyangak'' and '' gagok''; translated to the ''‘classical song cycle’'', and ''dangak''. As these forms of court music eventually began to fade away, ''aak'' was decidedly later used only for Confucian shrine music. As time went on, it eventually also included forms of music played for aristocrats, nobility and court officials.

The first historical noting of ''aak'' was during the Unified Silla period of ''668–935'', however this is only due to the existence of ''aak'' instruments, and no music or performance coexisted at this time. ''Aak'' music and performance to began to spread across Korea for the first time during the Goryeo Dynasty of 918–1392. ''Aak'' was first introduced to Korea during ''1116'', when the Chinese emperor of the Sung Dynasty first presented the Korean court with ''aak'' instruments and court dance instructions; Emperor Hyejong of Goryeo provided Emperor Huizong of Song with a gift of 428 music instruments, 572 costumes, and ritual dance objects imported 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. ''Hyangak'' means '''indigenous/native music, folk music. During the Unified Silla period of Korea, the genre widely included native Korean court music, along with music imported from China prior to the years of the Tang Dynasty. As ''hyangak'' includes original Korean music, it is commonly acknowledged as the most prominent genre of court music, and its wider musical range has also led to the preference of Koreans to perform it more frequently than other genres.

Its historical origins trace as far back to the Three Kingdoms period ''(220AD-280AD)''. However, the earliest recordings of ''hyangak'' were during the 14th century, which was seen through the very first few creations of instrumental ''hyangak'' compositions. The 15th century started to see the creation of 24 hyangak compositions in total, and by the year 1434, there were around 80 compositions of hyangak music. During the Unified Silla period of Korea, ''hyangak'' was only played alongside ''dangak''. Within the Goryeo Dynasty, ''hyangak'' was referred to instead as ''sokak''. Some of the genre's musical instruments were derived from the ''Unified Silla'' period, including the ''samhyeon'' and ''samjook'', however ''hyangak'' was also played with foreign instruments such as the ''janggu, haegeum'' and the flute. The Joseon Dynasty finally saw less of a clear distinction between ''hyangak'' and ''dangak'' through each genre's direct influence on one another.

''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 ''poheoja'', 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.

Dangak originated within the Goryeo Dynasty of ''918–1392'', in which ''dangak'' music and performances first began to spread across Korea. During the Yi Dynasty of ''1392–1910'', the genre further developed through an increase in the creation of compositions for instrumental ''dangak'' music. Dangak continued to spread in Korea throughout the Goryeo ''(918-1392)'' and Joseon ''(1392-1910)'' dynasties.

Dangak music is typically accompanied with dance performances referred to as ''dangak chongjae''.

One of the most popular pieces of ''dangak'' is commonly known as ''Nakyangchun'', and is one of the two only current surviving pieces of dangak music, of which the other is '' Boheoja'' (translated to “Pacing the Void”).

Performance

Korean court performances included traditional banquet dances alongside musical accompaniments. Female court entertainers were called ''kinyo'' and ''kisaeng''. Male musicians were separated into 4 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 8x8 formation.

Audiences are welcome to watch ''aak'' performances at the Kungnip Kugagwon National Center for Korean Traditional Performing Arts in Seoul. Performances are also played at certain ceremonies such as the Seokjeon Daeje, held at the Munmyo shrine of the Sungkyunkwan University in Seoul. This festival is held during the spring and autumn seasons every year as a festival with the purpose to honour Confucius.

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, in order 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. Musicians and performers of ''dangak chongjae'' were normally drawn from the lower classes of Korea.

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 ''Won’gaksa''.

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 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, pak,'' along with the 8 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, 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, cholgo''.

Cultural influence on contemporary society

The word for music in the Korean language is ''umak'', 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.

South Korean music

Popular Korean musicians have also drawn upon Korean court music as sources of inspiration for their songs, such as Agust D and BTS.
"Daechwita" is a song produced and created by Agust D, also known as Suga of BTS, for his mixtape '' D-2'' (2020). According to an interview, Agust D stated he has previously "used traditional Korean sounds in ismusic a lot", which was the inspiration for his title track. Agust D's "Daechwita" is heavily inspired by and directly named after the Korean royal processional music genre. The rapper directly confirmed that he "sampled '' daechwita'', which is the music played for when a king was on the move", as the traditional genre ''daechwita'' refers to a traditional marching song historically played only for kings and other high-ranking officials. The song also continually makes strong use of a traditional Korean wind instrument used within ''daechwita''; the ''taepyeongso''.

The music video for "Daechwita" further contains a range of historical references and cultural nuances. The location of filming was Dae Jang Geum Park, also known as the largest historically themed drama set in South Korea which aims to showcase traditional culture. The music video also displays Agust D with a scar on his face, acting as a Korean king. Traditionally, Korean culture strongly prevented those with scars on their body to covet the throne, and this historical link was a prevalent theme in the music video, as fans subsequently made theories linking to the ability of Agust D to climb his way to the top, despite the system seemingly being against him.

" Idol" is a song created by BTS for their album '' Love Yourself: Answer'' (2018). The group's official music video along with their range of stage performances show each member of the band adorning traditional Korean clothing known as ''hanbok''. The group also display a variety of traditional banquet dance moves through the choreography and chants integrated within the song, all of which inspired by a Korean masked dance referred to as ''bongsan talchum''.

See also

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

References

{{Reflist

Court music
Joseon dynasty
Classical and art music traditions