| Here presented the Kayagum Sanjo Variation (Korean; 가야금 산조), performed by Hwang Byeonggi (Korean; 황병기, 1935 ~ Present), in 1966. Kayagum is a traditional Korean zither-like string instrument with 12 strings. All traditional Kayagum use silk strings, although, since the late 20th century, the silk strings may be replaced with nylon strings. According to the Samguksagi (completed in 1145), "The History of the Three Kingdoms of Korea", the Kayagum is supposed to have been developed around the 6th century in the Gaya confederacy by King Gasil (also known as Haji of Daegaya) after he observed an old Chinese instrument, a guzheng. He then ordered a musician named Wu Ruk to compose music that could be played on the instrument. The gayageum was then further improved by Wu Ruk during the reign of Jinheung in the Silla Dynasty. Kayagum is believed to have evolved in the 19th century with the emergence of sanjo music, literally means scattered melodies, a musical form involving some improvisation. For the sanjo Kayagum, the closer spacing of the strings and shorter length of the instrument enables a musician to play the faster passages required for sanjo. The sanjo Kayagum is now the most wide spread form of Kayagum. The performer, Hwang Byeonggi, is the foremost South Korean player of the Kayagum. Hwang is also a composer and an authority on Korean sanjo. In 1951 he began playing Kayagum at The National Center for Korean Traditional Performing Arts in Seoul, where he ... |
