History is rich in revelations of not only wars and achievements but also about culture, art, foreign influences and changes that go over to cross cultural intermingling. Cuisine, dress and native language is unearthed with the help of history and thanks to the many history exponents that the facts are preserved for reference and knowledge purpose.
Music and songs is the soul of existence. Music is therapeutic and much can be visualized with the help of music. It is seen that as the lullaby soothes a child to sleep, it also helps healing of wounds. This is also a favourite pass time and songs have no boundaries. A true singer is one who can sing any song of foreign language with the same pathos and intensity. Passion for music and songs is a great advantage as one keeps yearning for more. Korean children’s songs and Korean folk songs are most popular.
The history of Korean songs is more than 1000 years old. There is a lot of effort to be recognized by senior musicians who went along with imprisonment and the ravages of war at yet preserved the richness in Korean music and songs. One of them was Isang Yun who traveled into Europe during 1956 and was imprisoned. Later when released Yun taught in a college in Berlin and embraced the citizenship of Germany. Though he was greatly impressed by the music of Vienna he slowly started involving Korean music in the curriculum. Musicians like Suk Hi Kang and Chong gil Kim traveled over to Germany to learn from their revered master Isang Yun. They brought their wealth of learning back to Korea and further publicized Korean music.
Korean music was not allowed during the Japanese rule yet some kind of court songs where allowed to be sung during ceremonies. There was more influence of Western form in the music as Korean music seemed to be fading aways. But thanks to the work of Hwang that the Korean music was inculcated and thus Korean music again was popular in its own state. With newer and budding musicians Korean music brought life and cheer throughout Korea.
Paik music is a pioneer music organization amongst many renowned music companies in Korea. Pail was associated with the ‘Fluxus’ and greatly impressed by John Cage. There are several music associations that preserve the Contemporary culture and Korean musical instruments. Bamboo seems to be the chief wind instrument and there are other traditional percussions like a gong or suspended gong and a drum which shapes as the hourglass. The fiddle is also a string instrument. A wooden box of chuk is also used as an instrument.