The ''ajaeng'' () is a Korean

string instrument In musical instrument classification, string instruments, or chordophones, are musical instruments that produce sound from vibrating strings when a performer strums, plucks, strikes or sounds the strings in varying manners. Musicians play some ...

. It is a wide

zither Zither (; , from the Greek ''cithara'') is a class of stringed instruments. The modern instrument has many strings stretched across a thin, flat body. Zithers are typically played by strumming or plucking the strings with the fingers or a ...

with strings of twisted

silk Silk is a natural fiber, natural protein fiber, some forms of which can be weaving, woven into textiles. The protein fiber of silk is composed mainly of fibroin and is most commonly produced by certain insect larvae to form cocoon (silk), c ...

. It is played with a slender stick of

forsythia ''Forsythia'' , is a genus of flowering plants in the olive family Oleaceae. There are about 11 species, mostly native to Eastern Asia, but one native to Southeastern Europe. ''Forsythia'' – also one of the plant's common names – is named ...

wood that is drawn across the strings in the manner of a bow (or it can be played w/ a Horsehair Bow). The ''ajaeng'' mainly plays the bass part in ensemble music. Some instruments have as many as nine to twelve strings. similar to the koto but bowed The ''ajaeng'' is generally played while seated on the floor. It has a tone similar to that of a

cello The violoncello ( , ), commonly abbreviated as cello ( ), is a middle pitched bowed (sometimes pizzicato, plucked and occasionally col legno, hit) string instrument of the violin family. Its four strings are usually intonation (music), tuned i ...

, but raspier. Some contemporary players prefer to use an actual

horsehair Horsehair is the long hair growing on the Mane (horse), manes and Tail (horse), tails of horses. It is used for various purposes, including upholstery, brushes, the Bow (music), bows of musical instruments, a hard-wearing Textile, fabric called ...

bow rather than a stick, believing the sound to be smoother. The instrument is used in court, aristocratic, and folk music, as well as in

contemporary classical music Contemporary classical music is Western art music composed close to the present day. At the beginning of the 21st-century classical music, 21st century, it commonly referred to the post-1945 Modernism (music), post-tonal music after the death of ...

and film scores. The traditional ''ajaeng'' is divided into a ''daeajaeng'' () for ''jeongak'' () and a ''soajaeng'' for folk music (, or ''sanjo ajaeng'', ). Since the second half of the 20th century, various improved ''ajaengs'' have been made and used to play various ranges.

Description

''Ajaeng'' is divided into two types. The ''ajaeng'' used in court music is called '' jeongak ajaeng'', and the ''ajaeng'' used in folk music is called '' sanjo ajaeng''. The original version of the instrument, and that used in court music (called the '' jeongak ajaeng''), has seven strings; while the ''ajaeng'' used for '' sanjo'' and '' sinawi'' (called the ''sanjo ajaeng'') has eight. File:정악아쟁 Jeongak ajaeng.jpg, Jeongak ajaeng File:산조아쟁 Sanjo ajaeng.jpg, Sanjo ajaeng File:개량 아쟁 김붕기 (1967).jpg, Improved ajaeng Ajaeng player

The instrument is put on a pedestal called a ''chosang'' (). The player plays the instrument using a bow or by plucking the strings. The ''ajaeng'', having its origins in

Tang dynasty The Tang dynasty (, ; zh, c=唐朝), or the Tang Empire, was an Dynasties of China, imperial dynasty of China that ruled from 618 to 907, with an Wu Zhou, interregnum between 690 and 705. It was preceded by the Sui dynasty and followed ...

China, was derived from the Chinese '' yazheng'', which was introduced to Korea during the

Goryeo dynasty Goryeo (; ) was a Korean state founded in 918, during a time of national division called the Later Three Kingdoms period, that unified and ruled the Korea, Korean Peninsula until the establishment of Joseon in 1392. Goryeo achieved what has b ...

. In 1430, Uiryesangjeongso, the organization for the arrangement of court music and ceremonies arranged the institution of the Goryeo dynasty and included the ''ajaeng'' as one of the instruments used to perform

Dangak ''Dangak'' () is a genre of traditional Korean court music. The name means " Tang music", and the style was first adapted from Tang Dynasty Chinese music during the Unified Silla period in the late first millennium. It was continued through t ...

. On the 'Five manners' in the annals of King Sejong, it describes the appearance of the ''ajaeng''. The line was seven, and the left was broken, with catters placed on it. According to '' Akhak gwebeom'', the ''ajaeng'' was used only for

before that time, but at the time of King Seongjong, it was also used for

Hyangak ''Hyangak'', literally "indigenous/native music, folks music" is a traditional form of Korean court music with origins in the Three Kingdoms of Korea, Three Kingdoms period (57 BC – 668 AD). It is often accompanied by traditional folk dances o ...

References

External links

2007 With Angel... 10월 4일 목요일 저녁 7시30분 국립국악원 우면당아쟁의 홈페이지에 오신것을 환영합니다.Tenderness - Seola, KIM with Ajaeng Chamber POEMWinter Ocean(겨울바다) by Seola KimNabilela(나빌레라) by Ajaeng chamber "Poem" - Seola KimTwilight(2013) by Seola Kim
{{Authority control Bowed string instruments Zithers Korean musical instruments

Description

See also

References

External links