Musical instruments return home after 120 years

In 1893, ten musicians from Korea navigated to the United States on a special mission of King Gojong (1852-1919), the 26th ruler of the Joseon Dynasty (1392-1910). They played the music of Joseon and received the spotlight in the Chicago World’s Columbian Exposition where 37 countries participated. To promote Joseon as an independent country in the world and differentiate the nation from its neighbors China and Japan, the musicians donated their musical instruments to the United States before returning home.

At the opening ceremony for the “Returned after 120 years: Joseon instruments in the U.S.” exhibition on September 30, Culture Minister Yoo Jin-ryong points at the piri double reeds on display (photo: Jeon Han).

Over a century has passed since then and these instruments, currently owned by the Peabody Essex Museum in Boston, will return to Korea for a special exhibition titled “Returned after 120 years: Joseon instruments in U.S. (unofficial translation)”

The exhibition, jointly held by the National Museum of Korea and the National Gugak Center, will show eight of the donated instruments -- dangbipa (four-stringed instrument with a circular resonator and a bent neck), piri (cylindrical double-reed bamboo oboe), geomungo (six-stringed zither), janggu (hourglass-shaped drum), daegeum (large flute), yanggeum (dulcimer), and saenghwang (free-reed mouth organ made with 17 bamboo pipes).

The janggu drum, played by Joseon-era court musicians, has dragon head cleats (photo: Jeon Han).

The instruments on display hold historical significance in Korean music. The dangbipa is known to be the oldest existing Korean musical instrument. Two piris are also special as they are the only ones with their mouthpieces intact.

The tuning buckles of the janggu drum, which was on display at the Chicago World’s Columbian Exposition in 1893, have retained their colors after over a century (photo: Jeon Han).

The exhibition will also show photos and records of Joseon’s participation and its pavilion at the Chicago expo, including music-themed paintings by Joseon artists like Kim Hong-do (1745-1806) and other relics related to gugak (traditional Korean music) such as scores and uigwe (royal protocols of the Joseon Dynasty).

The exhibition will be held for two months starting on October 1 and offers free admission. The museum is closed every Monday. More information about the exhibition is available at the homepage of the museum serviced in nine languages: http://www.museum.go.kr/main/index/index002.jsp

By Yoon Sojung
Korea.net Staff Writer
arete@korea.kr

From left: daegeum, saenghwang, piri (photos courtesy of the National Gugak Center)

Janggu (photo courtesy of the National Gugak Center)

Dangbipa (photo courtesy of the National Gugak Center)

Yanggeum (photo courtesy of the National Gugak Center)

Geomungo (photo courtesy of the National Gugak Center)