Kayagum *** - Healthy Boys, LLC

Kayagum 가야금 Presented by Michelle Lee

What is Kayagum? • Kayagum is a traditional Korean zither-like string instrument, with 12 strings, although more recently variants have been constructed with 21 or other numbers of strings. • Also called Kayatgo. • It is probably the best known traditional Korean musical instrument. • It is very similar to the Japanese koto and the Chinese guzheng, or table harp, where it is widely believed to have come from.

Some History of the Kayagum… • Kayagum was developed sometime around the 6th century during the Gaya confederacy led by King Gasil. • King Gasil saw an old Chinese instrument called Guzheng and got the idea of Kayagum from it. • Around the 19th century, Sanjo Kayagum was made, literally meaning scattered melodies. • Silk strings were used until late 20th century but it was replaced by nylon strings.

Structure • Beobgeum Kayagum is 160 cm long by 30 cm wide by 10 cm high • body is made from a single piece of paulownia wood • Sanjo Kayagum is about 142 cm long by 23 cm wide by 10 cm high • It has the soundboard made of paulownia, but uses a harder wood such as chestnut or walnut for the sides and the back, so the resonator chamber is made of both • There are 13, 17, 18, 21, 22, or 25 strings.

Some Facts about Kayagum • The sanjo kayagum is used in folk music and original music such as sanjo or solo music with percussion accompaniment or in shinawi or ensemble music based on improvisation.

• The chong-ak kayagum is used to accompany songs or in chamber music such as yongsan hoesang or mass at the sacred mountain.

How to tune a Kayagum • http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=us4isDsQf S0

Notation

Music sheet?!o_O

“Keum Bo Jeon Suh”

How to Play… • Rest the Kayagum on your right knee • 2 techniques: 1. Left-hand presses the strings and its finger movements make various types of movements such as shaking, bending, vibrating the strings. 2. Right hand does plucking or stromping the strings. • Left hand technique: http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=mYmmFnW_ofI Right hand technique: http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=_mhZlEY_Ds0

Video Clips • Modern Version: http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=Vw9rb0qfhE&feature=related • Voice and Janggu and Kayagum: http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=52SuBA2N0w0 • Different technique: http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=IWLjIIv6PoY&feature =related • Sanjo Kayagum: http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=W8wWsmlpYoI&feat ure=related