| Dangak | |
| Hangul | 당악 |
|---|---|
| Hanja | |
| Revised Romanization | dangak |
| McCune–Reischauer | tangak |
Dangak (Korean: 당악) is a genre of traditionalKorean court music. The name means "Tang music", and the style was first adapted from Tang Dynasty Chinese music during theUnified Silla period in the late first millennium. It was continued through theGoryeo (918–1392) andJoseon (1392–1910) dynasties, when, along withhyangak andaak it was one of the three approved genres of court music.Dangak performances were accompanied by Tang-style dances known asdangak jeongjae.
Together withhyangak, during the Joseon Dynastydangak performances were the charge of theJeonakseo (전악서;典樂署; 1394–1457) and later of theJangagwon (장악원;掌樂院), the court office of music. Performers ofhyangak anddangak were drawn from the lower classes, in contrast to performers ofaak.[1]
One of the most famous pieces in thedangak repertoire is calledNakyangchun (낙양춘;洛陽春;lit. "Spring inLuoyang"). The American composerLou Harrison, who studied traditional music in South Korea in 1941, created an arrangement of this work. The Korean composerIsang Yun also composed acontemporary orchestral work entitledLoyang, in 1962.
Nakyangchun and a second piece,Boheoja (보허자;步虛子;lit. Pacing the Void), are the only surviving pieces ofDangak music.[2]
