Throughout the years South Korea has been known to be a society that is rapidly changing with the advancement of technology and the economy. Not only this but the culture, music, and artistic styles have also changed constantly to adapt to the international sensations that are trending in the world. The music of Samul Nori is a significant representation of the traditional world that South Korea has worked hard to preserve throughout the decades. The music of the Samul Nori is the uniting harmony between human beings and nature in accordance to the rules of Yin and Yang that also directly connect to the part of the society that worked the hardest to cultivate the land. Yin Yang Philosophy A little about the Yin and Yang philosophy was that …show more content…
The four instruments that these ensembles are compromised of are the buk (barrel drum), the janggu (hourglass-shaped drum), the jing (gong), and a kkwaenggwari (small gong). The four instruments in the Samul Nori ensemble directly correlate to an element in nature. The buk (barrel drum), is made of a hollowed out piece of wood with two leather skins tied to the wood and is played with a single stick, is directly related to the clouds. The reason these two are directly correlated is because it provides the bass sound like thundering clouds that would provide water to cultivate the land. The janggu (hourglass-shaped drum), this drum has two sides and different leather heads with one side being a higher pitch, it is directly associated with the element of rain. The jing (gong), this gong is typically played in a variety of ways including hand held or hung from a frame, it is directly associated with the wind. The reason why this instrument has more connection to this element is because it should make an oscillating sound that are said to imitate the shape of Korean Valleys. The last component which is the kkwaenggwari (small gong), this is mainly made of brass and is hand held to be played with a bamboo mallet, it is the instrument directly connected to the element of lightening. This is the most important instrument of the ensemble that plays the role of leader by …show more content…
Farmers’ music dates way back to the third century of Korea’s history. The reason the villagers used music was to increase productivity of the workers. It made the environment more pleasant and the workers used it as a motivation and a stimulant to work hard. These groups also became a form of entertainment during special occasions and holidays. Over time these groups have become a traditional form of music that was enjoyable to everyone and was passed from one generation to the next. This style of music on a broader perspective was called nong’ak, which included dance, and it was half of the influence to Samul Nori. The other half was sadang which were groups of traveling entertainers that were heavily influenced by shamanistic values and traditions. A major part of these groups were focused on performing Kut which is the name of shamanistic rituals. Samul Nori was developed after these two in order to represent kut in a new like that adapted to the developed tastes of the Korean people. This form of entertainment has changed from the fields and old village courtyard to concert halls and televised studio