Instrumentation

The gayageum is a Korean instrument, traditionally composed of 12 strings (in modern times, it can contain up to 25) placed across a box, resulting in sound. The strings are plucked with either fingers or a plectrum; occasionally, they are struck with beaters. There are different types of gayageum used in Korea, varying in size, shape, construction, etc. The popkum made of silk is a larger gayageum, used for court songs and ensembles. The sanjo, played for folksongs, uses wood thick enough to facilitate the techniques used to play the instrument. It is not essential to use this instrument to perform “Arirang,” but Se-Na had done a wonderful job doing so. In this Korean tune, instrumentation is not even needed; one could sing it a capella.

The piano used to play Chopin’s Nocturne comes from the percussion family since the hammers within the body of the piano are technically hitting the strings in order to produce sound. In the Romantic era, during the composer’s lifetime, the piano became an enormous prosperity. The instrument began to have a significant impact on the musical life of everyone in society around the world. The popularity of the piano had been a result of its ability to dominate all types of composition, whether it is opera, vocal, or symphony. It had become the most prominent instrument of the concert hall and home display.