Chungsimjungeum-Sun Youngsuk-Gayageum Sanjo:School of Kim, Byeong-ho

Gayageum is music centered on the gayageum, a traditional Korean plucked zither with movable bridges. The classic instrument has 12 silk (now often nylon) strings, while modern concert versions commonly feature 18, 21, or 25 strings for broader range and chromatic possibilities. Its sound world is defined by supple plucked tones, rich overtones, and expressive pitch inflections created by pressing and bending strings left of the bridges. Core repertoire spans court and literati traditions (jeongak), lyrical song accompaniment (gagok/sijo), and virtuosic solo suites (sanjo), as well as improvisatory shaman-derived practice (sinawi). In contemporary music, the gayageum appears in chamber ensembles, jazz, film scores, and cross‑genre collaborations, retaining its idiomatic ornaments and rhythmic cycles (jangdan) while adapting to new harmonic languages.