This study examines musical characteristics and performance methods of Paik Byung-dong's haegeum compositions. The musical characteristics—both those shared by all his works and those of each work—are considered. The performance methods examined i...
This study examines musical characteristics and performance methods of Paik Byung-dong's haegeum compositions. The musical characteristics—both those shared by all his works and those of each work—are considered. The performance methods examined in this dissertation focus on the ways of fingering and bowing.
The results of the examination are as follows. First, as the result of examining the trend of Paik Byung-dong’s works for Korean traditional instruments, those from the period before haegeum compositions appeared are based on 'eum saengmyeongnon' (living sound theory) that considers sound as a living being and the exploration of the resonance of sound. From 1998, when haegeum works appeared, to the present, they are expanded as various instrumentations and free forms based on the 'eum saengmyeongnon' have been pursued.
Second, the musical characteristics commonly shared by all the haegeum works can be explained in terms of structure, rhythm, melody, and traditional elements. Structural commonalities include a single movement form, atonal music, and an arrangement of haegeum solo section, cadence, and ad-lib for a performer's autonomous interpretation.
Rhythm is characterized by the pattern of breaking away from being on beats by the shift of accent and the use of ties and tuplets. Commas, as silence, signifies 'soundless sound' and those placed before and after the phrase create a space. Furthermore, they play various roles including rhythmic function.
The common characteristics of the melody development patterns are ‘the use of identical and adjacent tones’, ‘the use of the various ways of making a sound from a single note’, ‘the contrast pattern’, and ‘the counterpoint pattern.'
In addition, traditional elements are used in various ways in Paik Byung-dong's haegeum works. Sigimsae (ornamental expressions) such as chuseong, toeseong, and yoseong are expressed using the main western technique, or glissando. A 2nd and a 4th, the intervals of traditional music including breaking tones and ornamental tones, have been reinterpreted as a minor 2nd and an augmented 4th in a modern way. Through these, the aesthetic elements of traditional music are embodied.
Third, the musical characteristics of each work can be considered in terms of the instrumentation, the relationship between the beginning and ending notes, the use of a tonic and primary tones, and the ways to make a sound from a single note.
His haegeum works are characterized by his attempts to encounter various instruments. Various instruments such as yanggeum (hammered dulcimer), jwago (drum), bell, guitar, percussion ensemble, and piano are used along with haegeum depending on the piece.
The relationships between the beginning and ending notes are divided into three types: the unison, augmented intervals, and free endings independent of the starting note. The patterns of using a tonic and primary tones are also classified into the types of using a tonic, using primary tones, and not using both. While “Today, September 1998--From Twisting to Nirvana of Detachment” (1998) and “Empty, Go” (2010), a remake of “Heohaengcho” (1999), use a tonic, “Myeong (冥-Dark) II” (2004), “Un (韻-Rhyme) VII” (2011), and “Whereabouts of Sound” (2016) use primary tones. “Reminiscence of Poor Orfeo” (2016) and “At the Crematorium” (2016), which are rewritten works from the 1960s, do not have a clear tonic nor primary tones.
The ways to make a sound from a single note, based on the philosophy of 'eum saengmyeongnon', emphasize the variability of sound. They appear centered on the tonic and the primary tones while they are realized through techniques such as intervals, changes of rhythm and dynamics, glissando, and ornamental tones. They are used in a variety of forms in five works except for “Reminiscence of Poor Orfeo” and “At the Crematorium.”
Fourth, fingering and bowing techniques considering the musical characteristics of Paik Byung-dong's haegeum works are suggested for effective performance. As for the fingering, it is effective to use the technique of pulling a string to maintain the same timbre when progressing chromatic notes. In the case of a special technique using the fingerings such as glissando and trill, the combination of the fingering methods of lightly pressing a string and pulling a string can realize various feelings of traditional sigimsae and modern expressions. In the case of special playing methods using the bowing techniques such as tremolo and staccato, it is effective to organically combine the elements such as length, speed, pressure, angle, and position of the bow in addition to the direction of the bow. In addition, the diversity of such organic combinations can realize musical expression suitable for the composer's intention as well as various timbres.
This dissertation demonstrates that Paik Byung-dong's haegeum works not only utilize the unique timbre and various creative techniques of haegeum, but embody his own philosophy based on the 'eum saengmyeongnon'. Therefore, his works have the musical significance in that they have opened up infinite possibilities for haegeum based on the unique characteristics of the instrument. It is my expectation that this study could help increase the understanding of Paik Byung-dong's haegeum works and thus perform in a practical way.