[Daily Gugak] Day 14 – “Cheongseonggok” for solo daegeum

The daegeum is a large transverse bamboo flute. The classical piece “Cheongseonggok” (or “Cheongseongjajinhajip”) is a famous solo daegeum piece which conveys the charm of the daegeum. This piece takes its melody from the classical lyric song repertoire, “Taepyeongga.” In it, the daegeum player uses special techniques called yeokchyui, a strong blowing, which yields its unique cheong membrane vibrating sound.

The piece’s Confucian title, “Yocheonsuniljigok” (lit. Yao is Heaven, Shun is the Sun),is drawn from a Chinese idiom usually translated as “The sage Emperors Shun and Yao rule everyday,”—that is, “all for the best in the best of all possible worlds.”

Daegeum (long transverse flute) performed by Park Jeong-won (National
Gugak Center Court Music Orchestra)

Venue: Pungnyusarangbang Theater, National Gugak Center, Seoul