Dangak
Encyclopedia
Dangak is a genre of traditional Korea
n court music. The name means "Tang
music," and the style was first adapted from Tang Dynasty Chinese music during the Unified Silla
period in the late first millennium. It was continued through the Goryeo
(918-1392) and Joseon
(1392-1910) dynasties, when, along with hyangak
and aak
it was one of the three approved genres of court music. Dangak performances were accompanied by Tang-style dances known as dangak jeongjae.
Together with hyangak, during the Joseon Dynasty dangak performances were the charge of the Jeonakseo (hangul: 전악서; hanja: 典樂署; 1394-1457) and later of the Jangagwon (hangul: 장악원; hanja: 掌樂院), the court office of music. Performers of hyangak and dangak were drawn from the lower classes, in contrast to performers of aak.
One of the most famous pieces in the dangak repertoire is called Nakyangchun (hangul: 낙양춘; hanja: 洛陽春; lit. "Spring in Luoyang
"). The American composer Lou Harrison
, who studied traditional music in South Korea in 1961, created an arrangement of this work. The Korean composer Isang Yun
also composed a contemporary
orchestral work entitled Loyang, in 1962.
Nakyangchun and a second piece, Boheoja (hangul: 보허자; hanja: 步虛子; literally "Pacing the Void"), are the only surviving pieces of Dangak music.
Korea
Korea ) is an East Asian geographic region that is currently divided into two separate sovereign states — North Korea and South Korea. Located on the Korean Peninsula, Korea is bordered by the People's Republic of China to the northwest, Russia to the northeast, and is separated from Japan to the...
n court music. The name means "Tang
Tang Dynasty
The Tang Dynasty was an imperial dynasty of China preceded by the Sui Dynasty and followed by the Five Dynasties and Ten Kingdoms Period. It was founded by the Li family, who seized power during the decline and collapse of the Sui Empire...
music," and the style was first adapted from Tang Dynasty Chinese music during the Unified Silla
Unified Silla
Unified Silla or Later Silla is the name often applied to the Korean kingdom of Silla, one of the Three Kingdoms of Korea, when it conquered Baekje in 660 and Goguryeo in 668, unifying the southern portion of the Korean peninsula...
period in the late first millennium. It was continued through the Goryeo
Goryeo
The Goryeo Dynasty or Koryŏ was a Korean dynasty established in 918 by Emperor Taejo. Korea gets its name from this kingdom which came to be pronounced Korea. It united the Later Three Kingdoms in 936 and ruled most of the Korean peninsula until it was removed by the Joseon dynasty in 1392...
(918-1392) and Joseon
Joseon Dynasty
Joseon , was a Korean state founded by Taejo Yi Seong-gye that lasted for approximately five centuries. It was founded in the aftermath of the overthrow of the Goryeo at what is today the city of Kaesong. Early on, Korea was retitled and the capital was relocated to modern-day Seoul...
(1392-1910) dynasties, when, along with hyangak
Hyangak
Hyangak, literally "village music," is a traditional form of Korean court music with origins in the Three Kingdoms period . It is often accompanied by traditional folk dances of Korea, known as hyangak jeongjae...
and aak
Aak
Aak is a genre of Korean court music. It is an imported form of Chinese ritual music. Aak is often labeled as "elegant music" in contrast with other traditional Korean music...
it was one of the three approved genres of court music. Dangak performances were accompanied by Tang-style dances known as dangak jeongjae.
Together with hyangak, during the Joseon Dynasty dangak performances were the charge of the Jeonakseo (hangul: 전악서; hanja: 典樂署; 1394-1457) and later of the Jangagwon (hangul: 장악원; hanja: 掌樂院), the court office of music. Performers of hyangak and dangak were drawn from the lower classes, in contrast to performers of aak.
One of the most famous pieces in the dangak repertoire is called Nakyangchun (hangul: 낙양춘; hanja: 洛陽春; lit. "Spring in Luoyang
Luoyang
Luoyang is a prefecture-level city in western Henan province of Central China. It borders the provincial capital of Zhengzhou to the east, Pingdingshan to the southeast, Nanyang to the south, Sanmenxia to the west, Jiyuan to the north, and Jiaozuo to the northeast.Situated on the central plain of...
"). The American composer Lou Harrison
Lou Harrison
Lou Silver Harrison was an American composer. He was a student of Henry Cowell, Arnold Schoenberg, and K. P. H. Notoprojo Lou Silver Harrison (May 14, 1917 – February 2, 2003) was an American composer. He was a student of Henry Cowell, Arnold Schoenberg, and K. P. H. Notoprojo Lou Silver Harrison...
, who studied traditional music in South Korea in 1961, created an arrangement of this work. The Korean composer Isang Yun
Isang Yun
Isang Yun was a Korean-German composer originally from Korea. According to his official publisher's Boosey & Hawkes biography of him, he was granted political asylum by West Germany, eventually becoming a naturalised German citizen, following his abduction and torture in 1967 by the South Korean...
also composed a contemporary
Contemporary classical music
Contemporary classical music can be understood as belonging to the period that started in the mid-1970s with the retreat of modernism. However, the term may also be employed in a broader sense to refer to all post-1945 modern musical forms.-Categorization:...
orchestral work entitled Loyang, in 1962.
Nakyangchun and a second piece, Boheoja (hangul: 보허자; hanja: 步虛子; literally "Pacing the Void"), are the only surviving pieces of Dangak music.
External links
See also
- AakAakAak is a genre of Korean court music. It is an imported form of Chinese ritual music. Aak is often labeled as "elegant music" in contrast with other traditional Korean music...
- HyangakHyangakHyangak, literally "village music," is a traditional form of Korean court music with origins in the Three Kingdoms period . It is often accompanied by traditional folk dances of Korea, known as hyangak jeongjae...
- Nhã nhạc
- Korean musicKorean musicTraditional Korean music includes both the folk, vocal, religious and ritual music styles of the Korean people. Korean music, along with arts, painting, and sculpture has been practiced since prehistoric times....
- Korean culture
- List of Korea-related topics
- List of musical genres