The korean culture and wellbeing records: understanding the korean culture and music

I believe that humankind is originated from middle east according to the holy scriptures,

So Any culture has tendency to be influenced by distance from middle east, it is a matter of degrees.

The nearer the middle east, the more crude the culture.

For example, the ancient scripts of middle east, such as the arrow headed characters(cuneiform) , look like more crude than english alphabet letter because the united kingdom is more far from middle east. And we can figure out that the alphabet letter looks soft and curvaceous. it doesn't mean that alphabet letter is more superior than the letters of middle east. It just shows us the elapsed time they took.

The same phenomena we can see on the other case. The letters of korea and japan are more curved and soft than chinese characters, just because they are more far from middle east than china.

This rule applies to the music, There are many curves and softness in the korean traditional music. They are so unique that korean people feel difficulty to get it through to the foreigner's head simply.

In Every cultures including korea, there are many unique things for strangers not to be understandable. We used to call that nuance. Not only in culture but also in languages, some words of the korea are difficult to be translated into english, That's why there are so many versions of the bible translation because Hebrew words are not simple to be translated by using one or two expressions. Similarly, some terms of korean music are nearly impossible to get through perfectly in one-to-one correspondence basis. The best way to get the knack of is just ,to begin with, to enjoy it.

Then, I 'd like to introduce the beautiful traditional korean music named "oh-nuh-la". This simple and beautiful song helps us grasp well the ambience of korean culture and also helps focus on the kernel of unique point. and This songs lyrics is Middle-ages Korean Language. So it's different with modern Korean. So I do not understand the meaning totally like you even though I am korean. It's very funny. isn't it?

click to listen

ONaRa ONaRa AJu ONa∼
GaDaRa GaDaRa AJu GaNa∼
NaNaNy DaRyeDo Mos NoNaNy∼
ANyRy ANyRy ANy NoNey∼

And I want to introduce the korean traditional musical instrument named "Dae-gum", which is made of Bamboo. It seems like flute similar with ones of china and japan but Dae-gum has more wide sound range from lower pitch to piercing shriek. So it can make a variety of sound.

The secret is in its structure, most flute or pipe in the world only has two kind of hole, the embouchure and finger hole. but Dae gum has one more hole in it name "cheong gong"

The "cheong gong" is covered with the inner layer of a reed. And it helps player make a variety sound by vibrating. Player needs to change the inner layer once in a while because it depends on condition of Cheong gong to make a clear sound, and it can easily get dry, and tear.