Music and Dance
Much of Korea's culture and heritage is expressed in its varied music and dance.
Performances can be viewed at fold villages, festivals, and various performing art
centers in Seoul. Traditional music can be classified as either court or folk music.
Court music is slow and solemn, while folk music tends to be emotional and lively.
Traditional dances are likewise divided into three categories: court, folk, and
religious, with religious dances being incorporated into religious ceremonies and rites.
| Music |
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P'ansori- a narrative folk story describing a long and dramatic story.
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| Dance |
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Samulnori (farmers' dance)- this dance is distinctive for the long, flowing
tassles worn atop the dancers' hats which follow the spinning movements of their wearers.
Music is produced by 4 instruments: drum (buk), hourglass drum (chang-gu),
and two types of gongs (ching and kkoenggwari).
Sandaenori (mask dance)- developed over 200 years ago, these dances contain many
Buddhist and Shamanist elements and often satirize high society. The masks themselves are
very intricately designed so that they can represent different emotions depending on which
direction the mask is viewed.
Madangnori- this style is similar to musicals in the West.
Fan Dance- this popular style features several women dancing and combining their
large fans into elegant designs and patterns.
Drum Dance- in a fusion of music and choreography, musicians dance and spin around
their drums while maintaining the beat. |
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