Gayageum

Infobox Korean name

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hangul=가야금
hanja=伽倻琴
rr=gayageum
mr=kayagŭmThe "gayageum" or "kayagum" is a traditional Korean zither-like string instrument, with 12 strings, although more recently variants have been constructed with 21 or other numbers of strings. It draws its name from the ancient Korean confederacy of Gaya, where it is said to have been invented. It is probably the best known traditional Korean musical instrument.

History

According to the "Samguksagi" (1145), a history of the Three Kingdoms of Korea, the "gayageum" is supposed to have been developed around the 6th century in the Gaya confederacy by King Gasil (also known as Haji of Daegaya) after he observed an old Chinese instrument. He then ordered a musician named Ureuk to compose music that could be played on the instrument.

The "gayageum" was then further improved by Wu Ruk during the reign of Jinheung in the Silla Dynasty. However, according to CCAIS (2005), excavations in Kwangsan, Jeolla-namdo Province have found some fragments of a "gayageum" dating from the 1st century BC. Besides that, some ancient writings that contradict the "Samguksagi" also speak of a different origin of the instrument.

The ancient "gayageum" of King Gashil was called by several names, including "beopgeum" (law-zither, 법금), "pungnyu" (elegance, 풍류), or "jeong-ak" (right music, 정악) "gayageum". It is normally associated with court music, chamber music, and lyric songs, for which it provides the accompaniment. This type of "gayageum" has a wider spacing between the strings and plays slower tempo music such as "Yeongsan-hoesang" and "Mit-doduri".

The "sanjo gayageum" is believed to have evolved in the 19th century with the emergence of sanjo music, literally means scattered melodies, a musical form involving some improvisation. For the sanjo "gayageum", the closer spacing of the strings and shorter length of the instrument enables a musician to play the faster passages required for sanjo (Choi 2005). The "sanjo gayageum" is now the most wide spread form of "gayageum".(KCMPC 2001). All traditional "gayageum" use silk strings, although, since the late 20th century, the silk strings may be replaced with nylon strings.

Modern versions of the "gayageum", which have a greater number of strings, often use nylon-wrapped steel strings, similar to those used for the Chinese "guzheng" (Choi 2005). Brass strings have also been introduced to produce a louder sound, which is preferred for accompanying dance (Park 2004). To play modern music, "gayageum" with a greater number of strings have been developed, increasing the instrument's range. "Gayageum" are available with 13, 17, 18, 21, 22, or 25 strings (Choi 2005), although instruments with more strings are also available on custom-made basis. ^{[http://www.flickr.com/photos/dalcrose/464186650/ photo of "gayageum" with 25 strings]} The 21 string gayageum is normally found in North Korea.

Construction

The "beobgeum gayageum" is 160 cm long by 30 cm wide by 10 cm high. Its body is made from a single piece of paulownia wood. The resonator chamber is hollowed out of the piece of paulownia. The "sanjo gayageum" is about 142 cm long by 23 cm wide by 10 cm high. It has the soundboard made of paulownia, but uses a harder wood such as chestnut or walnut for the sides and the back, so the resonator chamber is made of both (Choi 2005) (KCMPC 2001).

On the soundboard, Anjok (movable bridges) support the strings. These bridges may be moved to adjust the tuning. The strings enter the top of the body, and underneath are Tolgwae (tuning pegs). At the other end, the strings are wound around free floating pegs, looped through holes at the bottom of the instrument, and then the strings are all tied in a coil (Choi 2005) (KCMPC 2001).

There are two techniques of playing:the left-hand is used by pressing the strings and its finger movements can be made various types of movements such as shaking,bending, vibrating the strings. The right hand is used in plucking or stromping the strings. The tone of the Gayageum is soft, delicateand subtle. It is said that Gayageum was made by King Kasil in the Kaya Kingdom around the 6th century and then it has beendeveloped by Wu Ruk in the time of King of Jinhung in the Silla dynasty. However, there is evidence that its use must have tracedback to much earlier time than the time of the Silla dynasty, as shown in the recent archeological excavations in the Kwangsan areasin Jeolla-namdo Province, where some fragments of a Gayageum used in around B.C. 1st century were found. The Gayageum isemployed in three different types of music:(i)for Sanjo- Gayageum which is completed in relatively recent time;(ii)for Pungryu-Gayageum which is the original one. The size of the former is smaller than that of latter. In the case of Sanjo-Gayageum, the gap between the two adjacent strings is narrow, so that is suits the music with fast tempo as in "sok-ak" such asSanjo, Sinawi. By contrast, in the case of the latter the gap of two strings is so wide that it suits the music, "Jeong-ak" with slowtempo such as Yeongsan-hoesang, Mit-doduri, and so forth. Recently(iii)in order to play the contemporary music, strings are added into a Gayageum by making its body much wider, known as "isibilhyongeum [21 string instrument] ", so that its range is widen. The Gayageum is used not only in ensemble music such as Gayageumbyeongchangbut also as solo such as the Gayageum-sanjo.

References

*Tourism Division, Seoul Metropolitan Government (2004). [http://www.visitseoul.net/english_new/do/cen_traditional_akki.html Korean Musical Instruments - Seoul Culture & Tourism] . Retrieved July 29, 2005.
*Comprehensive Culture and Arts Information System (CCAIS), Ministry of Culture and Tourism (2005). [http://www.culture-arts.go.kr/english/contents/con1_2-3.html Traditional Korean Musical Instrument] . Retrieved July 29, 2005.
*Dr. Park, Yong-Jae (2004). [http://kosef.nextdata.co.kr/index.jsp?filename=C0011/2004_12_A.htm KOSEF NEWSLETTER] . Retrieved July 29, 2005.
*Yoonjah Choi (2005). [http://learningobjects.wesleyan.edu/vim/cgi-bin/instrument.cgi?id=97 Kayagum] . Retrieved July 29, 2005.
*Korean Court-Music Promotion Corporation (2001). [http://myhome.naver.com/koogak/english.htm Welcome to The Koong Sung Koogak Sa, the Korean Court-Music Promotion Corporation] . Retrieved July 30, 2005.
*Jung Ae Lee (1997) Seattle Asian Art Museum [http://akmr.org/nwsltr05.htm AKMR Newsletter] Retrieved November 18, 2007.

External links

Listening

* [http://aris.ss.uci.edu/rgarfias/kiosk/sanjo.html "Sanjo" audio] from Robert Garfias site

Video

* [http://aris.ss.uci.edu/rgarfias/kiosk/media.html "Sanjo" videos] from Robert Garfias site
* [http://www.koreasociety.org/content/view/209/67/ Grace Jong Eun Lee, Kayagum Composer and Soloist,] from The Korea Society

See also

* List of musical instruments
* Korean music
* Korean culture
* Koto (musical instrument)
* Đàn tranh
* Guzheng