This research is a thesis paper to analyze the folk song, Jangdan, that the music in used in South and North Korea.
The folk song Jangdan of the two Koreas began with the premises of national homogeneity in the origin for the starting point of study ...
This research is a thesis paper to analyze the folk song, Jangdan, that the music in used in South and North Korea.
The folk song Jangdan of the two Koreas began with the premises of national homogeneity in the origin for the starting point of study on the comparative thesis, which is the main comparison topic. Therefore, this research compares the contents of the North Korean folk song, Jangdan, that has been changed due to the difference in ideologies and ruling method with the unchanged Jangdan system in South Korea. And, the contemplation is made on the differences and use in both Koreas on the basis of its characteristics.
The music of South-North Korea had maintained the same music at the times of Japanese imperialistic ruling, but it had gone through the changes after the liberation. Therefore, the main contents of this thesis are focused more on the evolution of the folk song Jangdan in North Korea than the comparison of the Jangdan of South and North Korea.
The information that could be accessed on the North Korean music was limited, and the earlier theses and researches in South Korea were used to supplement this study. And the theoretical background, South and North Korean Jangdan history, and contents and features of the folk music in both countries are provided with the following summary with the theoretical background.
First, there is a discrepancy in musical terminology for both Koreas. The terms of Jangdan in South Korea, with respect to ‘Jajinmori Jangdan’ and ‘Yeombul Jangdan’, are indicated in North Korea as “Jajeunmori Jangdan’ and ‘Nyeombul Jangdan’ that there is a clear difference of grammars, and the technical terminologies in the music, such as, ‘Kideok’ and ‘Deok’, are expressed as ‘Darak’ and ‘Pyeon’ in the North.
Second, the North Korean folk songs listed on the folk song collections published in North Korea contain the unique Jangdan used only in North Korea. In North Korean music, there are Anjjang Jangdan, jinsoe Jangdan, man Jangdan, salpuri Jangdan and bakgutgeori Jangdan that are not used in the South Korean music.
Third, the Jangdan of both countries used in folk songs has difference in speed and regularity. In South Korean folk songs use slow Jangdan and fast Jangdan in even frequency with the relatively slow irregular Jangdan in many occasions, while the North Korean Jangdan frequently use the fast speed of Jangdan, such as anjjang Jangdan.
Fourth, there is a difference in names and contents used in North Korean Jangdan. There are similarities in names and contents aspects jinyang Jangdan, jungmori Jangdan, jungjungmori Jangdan, yeotmori Jangdan, jateunmori Jangdan and others. There are some Jangdans that have similar contents but different names, such as yanghsado Jangdan and dodeuri Jangdan. And there are same names but different contents in difference for jutgeori Jangdan, jateungukgeori Jangdan, deongdukgung Jangdan. Also, there are clearly different name and contents in ‘Jinswae Jangdan’, ‘Man Jangdan’, ‘Salpuli Jangdan’, ‘Bangutgeori Jangdan’ and others.
Fifth, in the Jangdan playing method, the two Koreas show the difference. From the jinyang Jangdan, jungmori Jangdan, jungjungmori Jangdan, gutgeori Jangdan, jajinmori Jangdan and others have similar basic Jangdan. In the playing method of Jangdan, South Korea mainly uses the Jangdan modification method of Ki, Kyung, Kyul and Hae along the flow of music, while North Korea shows many variations in jeongak (front part of Jangdan), hugak (real part of Jangdan) and jeon-hugak (entire Jangdan).
As shown above, the South Korean Jangdan that has been maintaining the frame of traditional music and the North Korean Jangdan that has been through the relatively significant changes over time share some basic common points, but as the result of pursuing the changes in North Korea as mucis a part of political tools, it has used the light and fast Jangdan like the Anddang Jangdan. On the other hand, South Korea has tended to substantiate the original form to separate the two Koreas.
Korean people that have identical language and history have been maintaining and evolving under the different system in the history of demarcation for the 50 years. And inevitably, South and North Korea have to face the numerous differences in every phase of society, not only in music and culture. However, it is hoped through this study that the changed music of North Korea would be contributing to the creation and heritage of high level of culture for Korea.