Jangdan ( beat ) patterns : gutgeori 12 / 8 ; semachi 9 / 8 and jajeun mori fast 12 / 8
There are eight types of materials that are used for Korean instruments : metal , stone , silk , bamboo , gourd , clay , leather , and wood .
Pansori
A musical form of Korea ’ s past that has experienced a great revival is the dramatic song called pansori . Originating in the folk traditions of the Joseon dynasty , pansori was an epic performed by a single singer accompanied by a percussionist keeping rhythm on a drum and punctuating the singer ’ s notes with contrapuntal sounds that interact with the emotionality of the vocalist . With seemingly no time constraints , the vocalist engages audiences for hours with a vocal range virtually unsurpassed in the music of any other culture . Pansori is now known internationally as a result of two highly recognized films by the leading filmmaker , Im Kwon- Taek . The 1993 film , Sopyonje , was the first internationally recognized Korean film and incorporated the hauntingly beautiful sounds of pansori singing . Another example of the pansori genre is the story of a young woman named Chunhyang , one of the most beloved Korean folktales and an ideally suited story for pansori . It is a story of true love , long-suffering virtue , and triumph over evil . In recent times , there have been several opera and film versions , the most recent directed by Im Kwon-Taek and released in the United States in 2000 . By far the form of classical music with the broadest appeal in Korea is the opera . In spite of the hardships caused by the Asian economic crisis , operas such as Madame Butterfly reaped a large profit with all performances sold out .
Without question the most famous folk song is “ Arirang ,” a lyric sung by a young woman whose lover is about to leave her to cross over the mountains through the Arirang pass . The melody has touched the hearts of many generations of Koreans and continues to strike a chord with those that are still discovering the many textures and dimensions of the Korean culture . Another popular art form from the folk tradition , and one that can be traced back as far as the Silla kingdom , may be found in the mask drama dance which was revived in the late twentieth century . The dramas , which were long , earthy , and satirical , were a way for the rural people to have some fun after long hours of labor in the fields . Visiting the mask drama at the Hahoe Village near Andong in southeastern Korea is highly recommended for all visitors .
Samulnori
For thousands of years Koreans have had to learn ways to live in harmony with nature . They were aware that their hard work in raising crops could only be rewarded with the help of nature and that a man only prospers when living in harmony with heaven and earth . Ancient Chinese sources referred to the Koreans as “ the people who loved singing and dancing .” Singing , playing musical instruments , and dancing were featured not only during communal work for the Korean people , but also were present at New Year ’ s blessings , the celebration of the completing of planting in springtime , and for the harvest . Even in battles or funerals , music instruments were used .
For centuries children grew up hearing the rhythmic sounds of percussion , a major element in folk music and an integral part of nongak , or ( farmers ’ music ), a form of rural entertainment
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