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Korea

Various Artists
Korea This 1972 recording features Korean court music, or jeong-ak, which was codified in the 5th century. Jeong-ak is essentially pentatonic and is derived from a type of sung poetry. Vocal performances are accompanied by a variety of Korean string, wind, and percussion instruments. The first track, “Sujecheon,” is among the most renowned pieces of jeong-ak. The title of the song, which is believed to have been composed during the Silla dynasty in the 7th century, means “Life Long Everlasting Sky,” and depicts the splendor of a rising sun. The piece is performed by an ensemble composed of a hyang piri (double-reed instrument), tang-chuk and daegeum (flutes), a-jaeng and haegeum (bowed string instruments), janggu (drum) and an eo, or “Wooden Tiger” (a wood scraper heard three times at the beginning and end of each piece of court music). The liner notes are in English and French.

Track Listing

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101
Sujecheon Imperial Orchestra 15:17
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102
Manpa Jungshi Ji Kok (The Calmness of Ten Thousand Waves) n/a 04:06
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103
Dae Chui-Ta Chui-Ta ensemble 04:22
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104
Samhyon Yongsan Imperial Orchestra 04:49
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105
Chong Song Jajin Hanip San Kyu Lee 05:42
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106
Man-Nyun Jang-Hwan Ji Kok (Song of Joy Everlasting) Choo Whan Lee 08:10
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107
The Waterfalls of Bak-Yon Eun Joo Lee 01:36
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108
Chongsun Arirang n/a 04:03
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109
Kayageum Sanjo Sung Keum Ryun 09:06