Gayageum
The gayageum or kayagum is a traditional Korean zither-like string instrument. It has 12 strings, though some more recent variants have 21 or other numbers of strings. It is probably the best known traditional Korean musical instrument.[1] Its body is made of Paulownia wood.
History
According to Samguksagi ( the three kingdoms history book), the first gayageum was made for King Gasil in the 6th century.[2] This was after he observed a Chinese musical instrument. He ordered a musician named Wu Ruk to compose music for this new instrument. The original name was gayago. It was further improved by Wu Ruk.
Construction
There are two types. The beobgeum gayageum is 160cm long by 30cm wide by 10cm deep. Its body is made of a single piece of paulownia wood. The resonator chamber is hollowed out of the wood body. It is used in court music.[3]
The sanjo gayageum is about 142cm long by 23cm wide by 10cm deep. The soundboard is made of paulownia, but the sides and back are of a harder wood such as chestnut or walnut. It is used in folk music.[3]
Technique
The player usually sits cross-legged. The gayageum is played put on the player’s knee (usually the right knee). One hand plucks the strings to make a sound. The other hand decorates the sound by pressing, shaking, and vibrating the strings.
Gayageum Media
Demonstration of the sound of gayageum by a non-professional player
- Playing Gayageum (6013979757).jpg
Concert Kwak SooEun and ensemble playing the gayageum
- Gayageum sheet music (Gayageum-bo) manuscript.jpg
Gayageum sheet music (manuscript)
- Cultural activities at the Incheon airport Dec 2014 2.JPG
A trio of female musicians playing a Gayageum (left), Haegeum (middle), and Janggu (right).
- 풍류가야금 02.jpg
Traditional Korean musical instrument, gayageum
Sanjo gayageum, a traditional Korean instrument, is mainly used for folk music such as sanjo.
- 개량가야금 신경철 (1967).jpg
This is a gayageum that was improved in 1967 by Shin Kyeong-cheol to increase the volume and make tuning easier.
References
- ↑ Jan. 11, 2007,Korean Instruments Archived 2016-03-03 at the Wayback Machine Seoul Metropolitan Government
- ↑ Thomas Rossing, The Science of String Instruments (New York: Springer, 2010), p. 192
- ↑ 3.0 3.1 Emerging Intelligent Computing Technology and Applications, eds. De-Shuang Huang; et al. (Berlin; New York: Springer, 2009), p. 213