Gayageum

Gayageum (Korean: 가야금 ) is a played in the classical Korean music Wölbbrettzither. It represents a leading role in the national music culture of Korea.

The gayageum was probably invented by King Kasil on the model of Chinese Guzheng Wölbbrettzither. Man, the instrument can be traced back to 551 AD to the year AD, as a refugee from the country Kaya for fear of annexation to Silla fled and the king the new instrument Kaya, a gayageum, made as a gift.

There are two traditional types of Gayageum: the court gayageum and the Sanjo gayageum. Typical of the court Gayageum the larger corpus and the reminiscent of rams' horns lower end of the instrument. The Sanjo gayageum was developed in the 19th century for the Sanjo - style. The closer placement of the strings and the shorter length of the instrument facilitate the faster passages of Sanjo. Both instruments have 12 silk strings and 12 movable bridges, which are shaped like feet of wild geese.

The mood of the Sanjo gayageum is G - c - d - g - a - c1 - d1 - e1 - g1 - a1 - c2 - d2. Two of notation are common. Used for the notation of the treble clef, is the notation in F, so the notes sound a fifth lower than written. If the mezzo-soprano key used for the notation, the notes sound as notated. In contrast to the Guzheng or Japanese Koto Wölbbrettzither the strings are plucked with the fingertips or nails of the right hand. The sound is quiet and singing. The sound design of the left hand is similar to the way of playing the koto.

The gayageum is usually accompanied by the questionable time hourglass Janggu. It is related to the Korean stringed zither Ajaeng, the Chinese guzheng, the Japanese Wölbbrettzither koto, the Mongolian and Vietnamese Yatga Djan Tranh.