Music, as an art that changes and is transmitted across different eras and regions, requires careful examination through diverse sources to understand its characteristics in detail. In particular, a systematic analysis of notation and performance aspe...
Music, as an art that changes and is transmitted across different eras and regions, requires careful examination through diverse sources to understand its characteristics in detail. In particular, a systematic analysis of notation and performance aspects provides an essential academic foundation for a deeper understanding of both historical and contemporary music. Such a study not only enriches contemporary musical expression but also serves as a stepping stone for exploring the future possibilities of traditional music.
This study provides a multifaceted examination of the notation and performance aspects of 《Gwanak Yeongsanhoesang》 through musical scores and audio recordings from the National Gugak Center lineage. Four types of jeongganbo notation, seven ensemble recordings from the National Gugak Center, and four solo haegeum recordings by performers within the Center’s lineage were compared and analyzed. Based on these sources, the research investigated notation and performance aspects with a focus on the haegeum melody. The principal findings are as follows:
First, to investigate the notation aspects of 《Gwanak Yeongsanhoesang》, four scores from the National Gugak Center lineage were analyzed in terms of piece titles and sectional structures, tempo, rhythmic cycles(jangdan), haegeum melody, and musical ornamentation(sigimsae). The analysis indicates a progressive increase in informational detail within the scores, accompanied by a narrowing of discrepancies between notation and actual performance practices. This development may be understood as reflecting the growing emphasis on the authority of notation and musical documentation, as well as an effort to systematize musical practice.
Second, to investigate the performance aspects of 《Gwanak Yeongsanhoesang》, seven ensemble recordings were examined by considering their durations and calculating the tempo of each piece. In addition, four solo haegeum recordings were transcribed and compared in terms of melodic structure and ornamentation. The ensemble recordings indicated a gradual tendency toward slower tempos over time. Comparative analysis of the haegeum melodies demonstrated that the skeletal melodic framework among the four performers was highly consistent. Nevertheless, in pieces such as 〈Jungnyeongsan〉, 〈Seryeongsan〉, 〈Garakdeori〉, 〈Yeombuldodeuri〉, and 〈Taryeong〉, while 「Yang Kyeongsuk」, 「Byeon Jonghyuk」, and 「Ko Sooyoung」 consistently rendered certain tones with ‘Hyeop(夾)’, 「Kim Cheonheung」 employed ‘Tae(太)’ instead. Furthermore, 「Kim Cheonheung」, the earliest performer among them, exhibited a distinctive style characterized by a frequent addition of ornamental tones and relatively limited use of chuseong(a gradual pitch raising technique)/toeseong(a gradual pitch lowering technique) compared to later performers.
Third, to investigate the aspects of chuseong and toeseong in 《Gwanak Yeongsanhoesang》, theoretical treatises and related sources were consulted, which generally identify the mode of the piece as gyemyeonjo. Previous research by Jang Sahun, Im Byeongok, and Kim Jeongseung confirmed that in jeongak pieces in gyemyeonjo, performers consistently apply toeseong when descending from the second degree(Tae(太), Hyeop(夾)) and the fourth degree(Yim(林)). Based on this analysis, the study classified toeseong at these degrees as conventional expressions, while other applications were regarded as distinctive. The analysis revealed that both notation and performance consistently employed toeseong at the second degree(Tae(太), Hyeop(夾)), occasionally incorporating chuseong or toechuseong depending on the melodic context, while the fourth degree(Yim(林)) was expressed exclusively with toeseong. Beyond these cases, variations in chuseong and toeseong reflected natural melodic connections, musical expression, and the structural characteristics of the haegeum, which alternates between yuhyeon and junghyeon strings. These variations underscore the interpretive individuality of each performer.
This study examines the notation and performance aspects of 《Gwanak Yeongsanhoesang》 with a focus on the haegeum melody. By tracing its transformations, the research contributes to a deeper understanding of the repertoire and anticipates that the graceful melodic lines of 《Gwanak Yeongsanhoesang》 will continue to be enriched with diverse artistic expressions, thereby ensuring its active performance and transmission in the future.