Korean music

Korean music includes both folk and classical styles from the countries of North and South Korea.

Folk music

Korean folk music is varied and complex, but all forms maintain a set of rhythms and a loosely defined set of melodic modes.

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Pansori

Pansori is long vocal and percussive music played by one singer and one drummer. The lyrics tell one of five different stories, but is individualized by each performer, often with updated jokes and audience participation. One of the most famous p'ansori singers is Pak Tongjin.

Related Topics:
Pansori - Pak Tongjin

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Nongak

Nongak is a rural form of percussion music, typically played by twenty to thirty performers. A smaller band version of nongak became very popular in Korea in the late 1970s, and some bands, like Samul Nori, even found some international success.

Related Topics:
Nongak - Percussion - 1970s - Samul Nori

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Sanjo

Sanjo is entirely instrumental that shifts rhythms and melodic modes during the song. Instruments include the changgo drum set against a melodic instrument, such as the gayageum or ajaeng. Famous practitioners include Kim Chukp'a, Yi Saenggang and Hwang Byungki.

Related Topics:
Sanjo - Changgo - Gayageum - Ajaeng - Kim Chukp'a - Yi Saenggang - Hwang Byungki

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