For the purpose of the Musical Links Investigation project, as a part of the IB DP Music Higher Level course, this blog was created to illustrate and analyze the connections that can be made between Bebop Jazz and Korean Pansori, which are two contrasting musical cultures. From the genre of Bebop Jazz, "Confirmation" by Charlie Parker will be evaluated; and from the genre of Korean Pansori, the song titled "Sarang-ga", translated as "Love Song", sung by Ahn Sukseon, will be assessed for this task. The connections in rhythm, phrasing, and syncopation between the two musical cultures will specifically be reviewed and discussed, while looking at the development of each style and the similarities they share within it.
American Bebop Jazz
American Bebop Jazz music has been widely appreciated over the centuries and is famously known for its historic background of it being a way of communication. The characteristics of Jazz music include syncopation, which is a crucial element in giving Jazz its flavor. To be syncopated means to have been placed with accents or emphasis on "surprising places", and it largely contributes to the swing that one will often hear in an American Jazz piece. Jazz music mainly consists of changes, specifically in chord structures, of the song and its melody. Improvisation is another popular and well-known element in Jazz, as it plays with the personal style of a specific artist. Jazz tunes have familiar melodies that are set to consistent chord changes and the melodic changes of a jazz tune make up the basis and foundation for "exploring the possibilities of a [jazz] song."
Jazz is often times associated with the Blues, and this is because of the 12-bar blues, where each bar or measure contains four beats; this is a simple structure used in Jazz. In a Jazz piece, listeners will also hear bent notes, which are note combinations that cannot be produced on scale. This gives Jazz a mysterious, intense and energetic personality. Innovative modes, which are various scales or groups of notes, are also often recognized in jazz pieces. Modal jazz songs build on and/or around one or two scales in particular instead of playing with several different scales such as the chromatic scale or scales from Indian, African, Arabic, and other world music.
Last but not least, phrasing in Bebop, the way a musician puts together a string of notes, similar to our patterns of speech, plays a giant role in American Jazz as it creates a lively atmosphere and gives the piece the conversational flair that it holds. Overall, jazz music is spontaneous and exciting, and it continues to evolve over time. It is often that we will hear swing in a composition that will encourage us to dance or snap our fingers along with the rhythmic momentum.
Jazz is often times associated with the Blues, and this is because of the 12-bar blues, where each bar or measure contains four beats; this is a simple structure used in Jazz. In a Jazz piece, listeners will also hear bent notes, which are note combinations that cannot be produced on scale. This gives Jazz a mysterious, intense and energetic personality. Innovative modes, which are various scales or groups of notes, are also often recognized in jazz pieces. Modal jazz songs build on and/or around one or two scales in particular instead of playing with several different scales such as the chromatic scale or scales from Indian, African, Arabic, and other world music.
Last but not least, phrasing in Bebop, the way a musician puts together a string of notes, similar to our patterns of speech, plays a giant role in American Jazz as it creates a lively atmosphere and gives the piece the conversational flair that it holds. Overall, jazz music is spontaneous and exciting, and it continues to evolve over time. It is often that we will hear swing in a composition that will encourage us to dance or snap our fingers along with the rhythmic momentum.
Korean Pansori
Korean Pansori, which may also be known as Korean folk opera, is a narrative song known for being dramatically performed by a vocalist. Often times, these performances only involve two people: a performer and a drummer. Pansori singers use a combination of song, narration, and dramatic gestures to communicate stories based on folk tales or myths that have been passed on from olden times. Furthermore, the three components of Pansori are referred to as "mal," meaning 'words', "ballim," meaning 'actions', and "sori," meaning 'sounds'. In many performances, one may notice that a fan is an essential prop to the dramatic gesture elements as it helps communicate different emotions. The drummer has a large responsibility too, as they provide appropriate rhythmic settings. The vocalist is responsible of being able to create a deep sound soaring from the abdomen, as that is what this specific style of music requires.
Korean Pansori is known to contain and represent a lot of the Korean's feelings that have been suppressed over the years, whether they are based on historical tragedies or modern-time sufferings. The context of the piece will often relate to love, self-sacrifice, filial piety, brotherly loves, compassion to animals, loyalty to the king, wisdom to overcome crisis and so on and so forth. The scale of Pansori is not a 7-note scale; based on the Korean traditional scale system. The basic melody involves "Mi" and "La" which are used for a thickly vibrating and stretching sound. In addition, "Do-ti" is one turning sound.
Korean Pansori is known to contain and represent a lot of the Korean's feelings that have been suppressed over the years, whether they are based on historical tragedies or modern-time sufferings. The context of the piece will often relate to love, self-sacrifice, filial piety, brotherly loves, compassion to animals, loyalty to the king, wisdom to overcome crisis and so on and so forth. The scale of Pansori is not a 7-note scale; based on the Korean traditional scale system. The basic melody involves "Mi" and "La" which are used for a thickly vibrating and stretching sound. In addition, "Do-ti" is one turning sound.
http://newyorkarts.net/2011/04/expressions-haan-ivoice-korea/