Since ancient times the Koreans had sung songs reflecting their desires and sentiments and in that course they created and developed national music.
In their national music, folk song is the main component.
The Korean folk song is expressive of the tender, gentle and graceful emotions of the nation by its unique expressing means including mode and tone.
“The folk songs of the northwestern provinces consist in gentle, beautiful and flowing melodies rich in national sentiments and occupy the dominant position in the Korean folk song. Such folk songs as Arirang, Platycodon and Yangsando are widely known around the world as they give their listeners an urge to sing together with the singers and fill them with national dignity and pride,” said Ju Hye Ryon, lecturer at Pyongyang Kim Won Gyun University of Music.
Traditional musical instruments of the Koreans include such stringed instruments as oungum, okryugum, kayagum and haegum, such woodwind as tanso, fife, pipe and saenap and such percussion as janggu, gong and drum.
Vibrato, a style of rendition peculiar to national instruments, adds bright yet soft emotional colours to clearly express the national sentiments of the nation. And trill delicately enhances melodic representation.
Along with the development of the times, efforts are being made to improve national musical instruments in line with the modern aesthetic sense while preserving their clear and soft tone quality.
Their fine features have fully been demonstrated, thanks to the creation of Juche-oriented mixed orchestration.
“After listening to A Bumper Harvest in the Chongsan Plain, an orchestral piece incorporating national instruments, foreigners lavished praise, saying that Korean musical instruments are uniquely national and nicely express the thoughts and feelings of modern people and that the tone colours of tanso and fife are particularly inimitable,” said Kim Jo Hyok, director of the musical instrument manufacturing institute of Pyongyang Kim Won Gyun University of Music.
More From Pyongyang Times
The 27th Meeting of the Political Bureau of the Eighth Central Committee of the Workers' Party of Korea was held at the
February 08, 2026
The 27th Meeting of the Political Bureau of the Eighth Central Committee of the Workers' Party of Korea was held at the
A spokesman for the Chinese Foreign Ministry at a press conference on February 2 censured the US for oppressing Chinese citizens.C
February 08, 2026
A spokesman for the Chinese Foreign Ministry at a press conference on February 2 censured the US for oppressing Chinese citizens.C
The residents of Ragwon County, which is widely known throughout the DPRK along with Ragwonpho associated with the legends of
February 07, 2026
The residents of Ragwon County, which is widely known throughout the DPRK along with Ragwonpho associated with the legends of
New standards and new records were set one after another at many units of the national economy, the national economic plans for
February 07, 2026
New standards and new records were set one after another at many units of the national economy, the national economic plans for
Seyed Ali Khamenei, leader of Iran’s Islamic revolution, expressed his stand to counter the US’ hostile act in a large-scale mass
February 07, 2026
Seyed Ali Khamenei, leader of Iran’s Islamic revolution, expressed his stand to counter the US’ hostile act in a large-scale mass
Ten years have passed since the earth observation satellite Kwangmyongsong 4 was successfully launched in the DPRK.When Kwangmyong
February 07, 2026
Ten years have passed since the earth observation satellite Kwangmyongsong 4 was successfully launched in the DPRK.When Kwangmyong
Over ten years have passed since the distance education system was launched in the DPRK. This system which is being actively
February 06, 2026
Over ten years have passed since the distance education system was launched in the DPRK. This system which is being actively
A department director of the Iranian Foreign Ministry called the German ambassador to Iran on January 29 to denounce and reject
February 06, 2026
A department director of the Iranian Foreign Ministry called the German ambassador to Iran on January 29 to denounce and reject
The 2026 National Winter Games opened with due ceremony at the ice hockey gymnasium of the Mt Paektu area sports village in
February 06, 2026
The 2026 National Winter Games opened with due ceremony at the ice hockey gymnasium of the Mt Paektu area sports village in
The prime minister of Qatar visited Iran on January 31 to discuss the issue of regional peace and stability at the time when the
February 06, 2026
The prime minister of Qatar visited Iran on January 31 to discuss the issue of regional peace and stability at the time when the
DPRK players returned home after taking part in the 2026 International Freestyle Wrestling Tournament "Ivan Yarygin Cup" held in
February 06, 2026
DPRK players returned home after taking part in the 2026 International Freestyle Wrestling Tournament "Ivan Yarygin Cup" held in
New public and production buildings have appeared at the Taechong Farm in Unpha County of North Hwanghae Province, giving a
February 06, 2026
New public and production buildings have appeared at the Taechong Farm in Unpha County of North Hwanghae Province, giving a
The Eighth Congress of the Workers’ Party of Korea worked out a yearly plan for building 10 000 flats in Pyongyang every year
February 06, 2026
The Eighth Congress of the Workers’ Party of Korea worked out a yearly plan for building 10 000 flats in Pyongyang every year
The vice-minister of the Iranian Foreign Ministry clarified the stand to resolutely cope with the US’ military threat on January 2
February 05, 2026
The vice-minister of the Iranian Foreign Ministry clarified the stand to resolutely cope with the US’ military threat on January 2
Protest actions were staged simultaneously in different parts of the US against the murderous immigration policy of the
February 05, 2026
Protest actions were staged simultaneously in different parts of the US against the murderous immigration policy of the
Natural disasters have brought misfortunes and sufferings to people in any era and any country. But the reality in the DPRK is
February 05, 2026
Natural disasters have brought misfortunes and sufferings to people in any era and any country. But the reality in the DPRK is
The construction for the regional development policy in 2026 began with due ceremonies in the area of the Sinuiju Combined
February 05, 2026
The construction for the regional development policy in 2026 began with due ceremonies in the area of the Sinuiju Combined
Schoolchildren in South Hwanghae Province met with a war veteran at the provincial art theatre on February 2. Present there were
February 05, 2026
Schoolchildren in South Hwanghae Province met with a war veteran at the provincial art theatre on February 2. Present there were
A national photo exhibition, "Under the uplifted banner of self-reliance", was opened in celebration of the 84th birth anniversary
February 04, 2026
A national photo exhibition, "Under the uplifted banner of self-reliance", was opened in celebration of the 84th birth anniversary
Students in their final year at senior middle schools in Nampho Municipality met with heroes at the Nampho Municipal Art Theatre
February 04, 2026
Students in their final year at senior middle schools in Nampho Municipality met with heroes at the Nampho Municipal Art Theatre
More Articles
