Korea’s Traditional String Instruments - gayageum and the haegeum
After attending that one incredible evening to mark the 60th anniversary of diplomatic relations between Canada and Korea, titled “Love’s Mosaic” and featuring traditional Korean music and pansori, I thought it would be appropriate to write about the traditional string instruments witnessed at the event. I was already quite familiar with the gayageum (12 string instrument) and the haegeum (2 string instrument, like a fiddle) but there are many more out there that many people are not familiar with. I will link a video at the end to showcase more than just these two.
GOH, Heung-gon is considered an Important Intangible Property No. 42, a human cultural treasure in Korea (Masters of Traditional Korean Handicrafts book, pg. 153). He creates many traditional instruments out of silk and has dedicated most of his life to his craft.
He became interested in these types of instruments and their creation process during his childhood when his neighbor had many of these instruments in his house. He was fascinated by them and went to train after high school on how to make these instruments. Back in the day these instruments were mainly played inside the home, so the sound wasn’t very loud. These days, however, the volume projection had to be modified as the instruments are mainly played on stage for shows.
The gayageum is considered to “represent the lyrical and sentimental feelings of the Korean people” (Masters of Traditional Korean Handicrafts book, pg. 153). This instrument, according to recent archeological research, was created around the 1st century under the Silla dynasty (57BC-935) under King Jin-heung. The name of the instrument itself, “gayageum” originates from a small state called 'Gaya', which was annexed by Silla. The gayageum is the most widely used traditional Korean musical instrument due to its clear tone.
Even during the Joseon dynasty this instrument was among the preferred for young aristocrats and scholars. Records have shown that the gayageum underwent some changes during the Joseon dynasty in order to better accompany pansori singing.
The second most widely used Korean string instrument is the haegeum, a 2-string fiddle that was introduced to Korea from China in the Koryo dynasty (918-1392). It is the equivalent of the “erhu” Chinese instrument.
These days we see many artists combine modern music with traditional Korean sounds. I will link some videos below.
Given the specific process of creating such instruments, no two will ever sound the same. Goh works on the silk strings during the summer when the humidity is high, and he pays particular attention to the sounds board. All Korean string instruments have to produce “the eight tones” and the wood becomes the most important material that will create the specific sounds they need.
For example, in the case of the gayageum, for the front board to produce a very clear sound, you need native paulownia tree at least 30 years old. The backboard must be made up of chestnut or walnut wood and the bridges must be carved out of pear or apple wood.
GOH, Heung-gon
Goh is very busy during concert season and loves attending concerts once he is done tuning the instruments before each recital. On the stairs of his workshop there is a beautiful display of an ancient Silla zither from Nara, Japan (this instrument also made its way to Japan). It is entirely covered in gold leaf making it extremely elegant. Thanks to crafters like him and others, this cultural legacy has continued and will continue to persevere.
Here are a few videos to give you a better idea of the sounds these two instruments produce:
Here is a video showcasing other traditional Korean string instruments:
Thank you for reading!
#koreanculture #Koreanarts #kcc
References:
https://hallyuism.com/2023/05/17/story-of-gayageum/
https://www.britannica.com/art/haegum
Masters of Traditional Korean Handicrafts text, 2009 edition