Changgu

ChanggoKorean Hourglass Drum

Pronounced: “jango”

Geographic Region: East Asia

Country of origin: South Korea

Classification: MembranophoneMembranophone – any musical instrument which produces sound primarily by way of a vibrating stretched membrane

Alternate Names: Changgu, Changgi

HistoryThere is very little historical knowledge of the Changgo

The Changgo was probably brought into Korea from the Middle East and Central Asia by way of China during the Koryo period (918-1392 A.D.)

The first manuscript is not recorded until 1076 where it is described as a field instrument used presumably during farming activities.

ConstructionBody: wood (sometimes pottery, metal, ceramic, or plastic)

Hourglass shaped

Made of one piece of wood

In the past, it was sometimes made by conjoining two or three separated pieces (bowl-shaped parts connected in the middle by a third module

The skins of the changgo are attached to its hollow body by a rope that is looped alternately through the eight metal hooks around the rim of either head. The tension of the drumheads of the changgo can be adjusted by moving leather straps that encase the ensuing V-shape laces.

Larger changgos may measure over 60 cm (23-24 in) in length and have a diameter of over 30 cm (11 to 12 in); smaller ones are approximately one third less.

Changgos used in court music were usually painted red, the royal color, while changgos used in folk music are the natural wood color as they are rarely painted.

2 Drum Heads: animal skin

Gungpyon/Pukpyon (Left side)

Cowhide or deerhide (thicker)

Chaepyon/Yulpyon (Right side)

Doghide or horsehide (lighter)

Gungpyon/Pukpyon (Left side)

Lower Tone/deep sound yang (man)

Cowhide(thicker)

Played usually with the bare hand or mallet

Chaepyon/Yulpyon (Right side)

Higher Tone Yin (woman)

horsehide(lighter)

Usually played with a bamboo stick

When both Gungpyon(yang) and Chaepyon(Yin) are played, it represents the harmonious nature of man and woman.http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=Fbw185e1jEo&feature=related

FactsMost widely played of Korean instruments

Capable in producing very complex rhythms

the instrument that maintains the changdan (rhythm cycles), the most important element upon which Korean music is based and structured.

the most widely used accompaniment instrument in almost every form of court and folk entertainment, music, and dance, and shamanistic music.

Has become known as a "solo" instrument, gaining popularity for the dynamism and virtuosic technique required to play increasingly complicated rhythm patterns.

NotationTraditionally, Korean percussion instruments used a notational system called the Chongganbo, which can be traced back to the fifteenth century.

This notation utilizes a column of squares to represent a line of music. These columns are called haeng and each beat or square is called a chonggan. The notation is read from top to bottom.

Playing TechniqueCourt Music Style

Seated position on the floor

A thin bamboo stick is used to strike the chaepyon (usually the right side) around the rim of the head, while the gungpyon (left side) is struck in the center of the head with the bare hand.

P'ungmul Nori Stylep'ungmul nori is traditionally an outdoor, open-space activity, the changgo in such cases is tied to the player's body, resting over one side of the hip with long pieces of cloth slung over the shoulder and around the waist.

Okedo•The Changgo has had a major influence on Japanese rope-tuned drums.

•The Okedo-daiko of Japan are very likely descendents of Korean traditional rope-tuned drums.

•Both the Changgo and Okedo have heads sewn to circular rings, rope tuning, and are often worn over the shoulder for dancing during festivals.

•The main difference between the Changgo and Okedo are their bodies.

•Okedo has a bucket body.•the Changgo has an hourglass-shaped body.

VideoChanggo

http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=mhyh4CYaxok

http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=QJtQTyJsspk&feature=related

http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=6Srs6bJa0Y8

http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=cUdse-xhIwU

http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=oUTx7A4wAwU

Okedo

http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=sSi7PyJMj3A