User:Ashaikh4/sandbox

Korean Traditional Music
Korean traditional music is also known as Kugak (national music). The first evidence of Korean music appeared in the extant text of Samguk sagi (History of the three kingdoms) in 1145, which described two string-like instruments; Kayagum and Komun’go. Traditional Korean music was brought to heights of excellence under the Lee kings of the Joseon Dynasty (Chosun Dynasty) between 1392-1897. During the Chosun Dynasty, a social hierarchy was observed with the King and the Yangban (government officials, generals, and the elite) at the top and the Yangmin (merchants, craftsman) and slaves at the bottom. There were two forms of music: Jeongak (“orthodox music”) and Minsokak (“people’s music”). Jeongak was the music category that the Yangban listened to for enjoyment and was played during state rituals like banquets, military processions, etc. Jeongak was considered as aristocratic music. However, Minsokak or Nongak (farmer’s music) dominated among the common people. The different types of people’s music were: Pansori, Pungmul (Samul) Nori, and Minyo (folk song). Pansori became definite in the seventeenth century and gained respect overtime. It is now considered as the ideal traditional music in Contemporary South Korea. Pansori requires a solo singer as well as a percussionist. This type of music contains body language, emotions, and sounds observed in nature. Pungmul Nori is the traditional Korean Percussion music with the sound of drums standing out. As for Minyo, it was enjoyed by commoners while Nongak was played during agrarian festivals. Folk songs were not specific; as in, the features varied among different regions. The most famous folk song of South (and North) Korea is “Arirang”. The popularity of this song sky-rocketed after it was sung solo at the screening of a silent nationalistic film produced by Na Un’gyu in 1926. There are several regional variations of this song.

However, Chosun Dynasty came to an end after Japan's military won against China (1894-1895) and Russia (1904-1905) and ultimately took over the Korean peninsula. Japan then controlled the major levers of politics, economics, and culture in Korea. During this period, the Japanese did not impose gagaku (the Japanese music of Chinese influenced court music) but instead imposed European art music. Western music education soon became a part of the Korean educational curriculum for the elite and included choral singing and playing instruments. Hence, the Japanese and Korean elites embraced Western music; thereby neglecting Kugak. However, to not go extinct, Kugak adapted the western style of music. In the 1900’s, Pansori gave rise to a new genre influenced by western music called Ch’angga (choral song/theater) which gave way to musical theaters and opera. Since Western music was not accessible to the common people, two different cultural groups arose; one where the elite listened to the government-imposed western music and as for the commoners, traditional music. This led to a new generation, often termed as 'modernized', who were accustomed to listening to Western music.

Western Influenced Korean Music
Western influenced Korean music is also sometimes referred to as Popular music and is seen in the early twentieth century. The western influence in South Korean music gave rise to new genres; some of which are Ch’angga, Kagok, and Yuhaengga.

Ch’angga arose from Pansori but became increasingly popular in the early twentieth century for its fusion of European anthems, American hymns, Western folk tunes, and Japanese choral music. Though it had Western melodies, the lyrics were in Korean. The most well-known example of ch’angga is the song “My Darling Clementine”.

Kagok (Lieder; referring to German art songs) is Western vocal music sung by a solo artist rather than an ensemble.

Yuhaengga (which literally means popular songs) is also known as sin kayo (new song). It became a part of everyday life in urban Korea in the mid-1920s as well as a crucial element of the term “modern”.