Publication of a Guidebook Utilizing 7 Traditional Korean Instruments Including Danso and Janggu by the National Gugak Center

[Asia Economy Reporter Park Byung-hee] The National Gugak Center has published two volumes of a guidebook on the understanding and utilization of traditional Korean musical instruments for composers who are encountering these instruments for the first time.

The second volume serves as a guidebook for seven instruments frequently used in traditional Korean orchestras, which were not covered in the first volume. It aims to help domestic and international composers who have never experienced traditional Korean instruments to easily utilize them.

The instruments covered in this book are Danso, Sogeum, Saenghwang, Taepyeongso, Yanggeum, Cheolhyeongeum, and Janggu. The authors include Lee Yong-gu, professor of traditional Korean music at Chugye University of the Arts (Danso), Lee Young-seop, professor of traditional Korean music at Yeungnam University College of Music (Sogeum), Kim Hyo-young, Saenghwang performer (Saenghwang), Jin Yoon-kyung, professor of Korean music at Pusan National University (Taepyeongso), Jeon Myung-sun, member of the National Gugak Center Creative Orchestra (Yanggeum), Yoo Kyung-hwa, professor at the Korea National University of Arts Traditional Arts Center (Cheolhyeongeum and Janggu), and Kim Hee-sun, head of the National Gugak Center Research Office (general theory).

'Understanding and Utilization of Traditional Korean Instruments for Composition 2' explains the structure, types, range, and playing techniques of each instrument in an introductory manner through sheet music and performance videos, providing great assistance to composers encountering traditional Korean instruments for the first time. Additionally, the sheet music included in the book is accompanied by videos of the authors performing the pieces, which can be directly accessed on the Gugak Center’s website, making it a valuable guidebook for understanding traditional Korean instruments through multimedia.

To commemorate the publication of this book, a lecture concert featuring lectures and performances by the authors will be held at the National Gugak Center’s Pungnyu Sarangbang in July.

The publication is available in PDF format under Instrument Research in the Research/Resources section on the National Gugak Center’s website.

This content was produced with the assistance of AI translation services.