Chapter 5 - Musics of East Asia II: Korea
Learning Objectives
- What can the song “Arirang” tell us about Korea’s history and relationship to modernity?
- Discuss the complex relationship between music and shamanism in Korea—how is music enlisted in the task of spirit-management?
- Name and discuss the “classical” genres that have developed from roots in shamanism.
- Describe the court music and other elegant musics of Korea.
- Articulate the range of Korean popular musics.
Listen
Credit: A: “Jeongseon Arirang,” performed by Cha Byeong-geol. Copywright Synnara Records. B: Yokota Ryoichi, “Ariran no uta.” Copywright Synnara Records. C: “Arirang” performed by members of the National Gugak Center, copywright National Gugak Center.
Credit: Mr. Sim opens his eyes (excerpt) by Bae Il-Dong (vocal) and Kim Dong-Won (drum). Copywright Bae Il-Dong and Kim Dong-Won.
Credit: "Uttari Garak" (excerpt). Performed by Nam Gi-mun (janggo), Yi Hong-gu ( ggwaengwari), Pak Eun-ha (jing) and Choe Byeong-sam (buk) at the National Gugak Center, 2014. Copywright National Gugak Center.
Review Quizzes
Review Flashcards
Explore
Video Links
- (1) Staged performance of Jindo ssikkim gut (cleansing rite)
- https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=e6AGGNCflkU
- Performed by members of the Jindo National Gugak Center.
- (2) Sinawi
- https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=m3eqig9C8Qg
- Performers of the National Gugak Center.
- (3) Gagok, “Taepyeongga” (Song of Great Peace)
- https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=7oFzKd7AXLc
- The only piece for both female and male vocalist in the gagok repertoire, performed by Yi Donggyu and Gang Suhyeon.
- (4) Pungmul, Imshil Pilbong-style Daeboreum gut (New Year's Full Moon Ceremony)
- https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=x443wONJ1lA
- Pilbong nongak, a famous style of pungmul from Southwestern Korea. This is a celebration of the first full moon in the East Asian Lunar New Year.
- (5) Yi Yonggwang and Samulnori Molge, “Uttari pungmul”
- https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=gLY9zKqi_eg
- A rather more canonical rendering of this piece, created by the original Samulnori group, than the track included with the textbook, by Yi Yonggwang and Samulnori Molge.
- (6) Yi Nanyeong, “Tears of Mokpo”
- https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=URyYRoi_B1A&list=RDURyYRoi_B1A&index=1
- The premier star of colonial pop singing her classic ballad of parting at Mokpo, a port city in the Southwest. This song references, obliquely, the displacement of many people during the Japanese colonial period.
- (7) Shinee, “Lucifer” (2010)
- https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=Dww9UjJ4Dt8
- A gorgeous example of the massive and almost militarily precise production values—in video, music, singing, and especially dance—in K-pop, and one of the most popular boy bands of recent decades.