| Description |
[National Intangible Cultural Heritage, Republic of Korea]
Generally, Gyeonggi Minyo refers to folk songs handed down in Seoul and Gyeonggi-do, but the pieces designated as an important cultural heritage are Gyeonggi Gin Japga (Long Miscellaneous Songs of Gyeonggi), which are also called Gyeonggi Jwachang.
At first, Japga referred to vulgar songs, as opposed to Jeongga (Classics) like Gagok (Lyric Song Cycles Accompanied by an Orchestra) or Gasa (Narrative Song), but today Japga has come to mean long pieces of vulgar songs that are sung seated. The 12 Japga of slow tempo among Gyeonggi Japga are called Gin Japga (Long Miscellaneous Songs), and are as follows: Yusanga (Song of the Mountain Picnic), Jeokbyeokga (Song of the Red Cliff), Jebiga (Song of Swallows), Sochunhyangga (Song of Chunhyang), Seonyuga (Song of the Boat Excursion), Jipjangga (Flogging Song), Hyeongjangga (Song of the Execution Ground), Pyeongyangga (Song of Pyeongyang), Sipjangga (Song of the Ten Lashings), Churinga (Song of Farewell), Bangmulga (Song of Knickknacks), and Dalgeori (Song of the Full Moon). Pyeongyangga, Churinga, Bangmulga, and Dalgeori are songs in slow tempo with sextuple time or four-four time about friendship and love exchanged among commoners.
Gyeonggi Gin Japga feature a tempo unique to Gyeonggi-do. They contain quiet and subtle expressions of the sorrows and delights of commoners. |
