Korean Traditional Instruments (featuring Uptown Funk performed with traditional instruments)

Uniqueness in a country's culture can be found in various aspects. One of the notable aspects is music. The tunes, the instruments, the vocals...all of them create that unique aspect of culture through music.

Korea has its own form of music, which is known as "Guk-ak". It is basically Korean Traditional Music. The music normally contained instrumental, folk, or ritual chants.

Take a look at this performance, performed by the Korean National Gukak Center. The music performed is called "Sujaecheon" (수제천), normally played in a royal court.

To those who first listen to Korean traditional music, it may feel peculiar and awkward; however, listen to it carefully, and you could probably feel the majestic royal court of Korea with the king walking down the aisle, followed by his royal officers and guards.

This is one of the examples of more traditional Korean music. Some even take traditional instruments and play modernized music too.

Here is one example:

This is performed by Sorea, a famous Korean traditional fusion band group. The music is the well-known "Maps" by Maroon 5.

I'm not quite a "Guk-ak" expert myself, but I play some of the Korean traditional instruments too.

This next video was performed using Korean traditional instruments by myself, with the famous hit "Uptown Funk" by Mark Ronson (Don't worry, I didn't sing, since I'm a horrible singer - failed a cappella auditions twice)

(Please note that the picture in the video is humorously anachronistic)

There were three instruments I used that were traditional: Taepyongso, Kayageum, and Danso.

The Taepyongso (태평소) is a trumpet-like instrument, with a reed resembling to that of an oboe. In this song, it slightly sounded like a saxophone. This instrument came into Korea through trade around the Goryeo dynasty, probably from the Middle East. The instrument was modified and changed into what it looks like today. It has a loud sound, and is normally used during royal processions and sometimes for folk.

The Kayageum (가야금) is a string instrument, played by plucking the strings with one's fingers. It is part of the long zither instrument family in East Asia. This instrument was created by Woo-reuk, who was ordered by the king to do so around the 6th century. The sound is soft and calm, and is loved by many Koreans today. It was also used in court and even folk music.

And finally, the Danso (단소). Danso is a wind instrument made normally from bamboo. Although it is positioned as if one is playing a clarinet during performance, the lips are positioned as if playing the flute. That probably explains why it has that flute-like sound.
It is unknown when it was created, with apocryphal beliefs that it derived from China.

If you're ever interested in learning more about Korean traditional music, let me know and I'd be happy to give you more sources and info. :)




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