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
Russian President Vladimir Putin referred to the foreign policy line of his country in a diplomatic meeting on January 15. He
January 22, 2026
Russian President Vladimir Putin referred to the foreign policy line of his country in a diplomatic meeting on January 15. He
With contagious diseases breaking out one after another across the world, a flu epidemic is rapidly spreading. The World Health
January 22, 2026
With contagious diseases breaking out one after another across the world, a flu epidemic is rapidly spreading. The World Health
Mountain villages in Jagang Province are turning into a fairyland. House-moving in Puji-ri of Songgan County, Ryongmun-ri of
January 22, 2026
Mountain villages in Jagang Province are turning into a fairyland. House-moving in Puji-ri of Songgan County, Ryongmun-ri of
A new catalyst production base has been built at the Namhung Youth Chemical Complex. The catalyst production base is another
January 22, 2026
A new catalyst production base has been built at the Namhung Youth Chemical Complex. The catalyst production base is another
With the implementation of the Regional Development 20x10 Policy of the Workers’ Party of Korea, regional-industry factories are
January 22, 2026
With the implementation of the Regional Development 20x10 Policy of the Workers’ Party of Korea, regional-industry factories are
The Youth Movement Museum marked the tenth anniversary of its founding. The respected fatherly Marshal Kim Jong Un personally
January 22, 2026
The Youth Movement Museum marked the tenth anniversary of its founding. The respected fatherly Marshal Kim Jong Un personally
It has been ten years since the Youth Movement Museum was opened to public to convey the Workers' Party of Korea's idea of
January 22, 2026
It has been ten years since the Youth Movement Museum was opened to public to convey the Workers' Party of Korea's idea of
Dmitri Medvedev, vice-chairman of the Security Council of Russia, posted an article on an SNS on January 12 to deride the US’ atte
January 21, 2026
Dmitri Medvedev, vice-chairman of the Security Council of Russia, posted an article on an SNS on January 12 to deride the US’ atte
Russia decided to deport a diplomat of the British embassy in the country. On January 15, the Russian Foreign Ministry called the
January 21, 2026
Russia decided to deport a diplomat of the British embassy in the country. On January 15, the Russian Foreign Ministry called the
Spectacular scenes of rural development have unfolded at several farms in Kangwon Province. Newly-built public and production
January 21, 2026
Spectacular scenes of rural development have unfolded at several farms in Kangwon Province. Newly-built public and production
The Academy of Forest Science has been built on a modern basis. The academy has all facilities and conditions, including an office
January 21, 2026
The Academy of Forest Science has been built on a modern basis. The academy has all facilities and conditions, including an office
The case of poisoning of Emperor Kojong is recorded as one of the violations of the sovereignty of Korea committed by the Japanese
January 21, 2026
The case of poisoning of Emperor Kojong is recorded as one of the violations of the sovereignty of Korea committed by the Japanese
Over the past five years since the Eighth Congress of the Workers’ Party of Korea, a new era of overall development has been
January 21, 2026
Over the past five years since the Eighth Congress of the Workers’ Party of Korea, a new era of overall development has been
A croaker pedigree farm has been built at the Ongjin West Sea Fish Farm. The pedigree farm has an office building, welfare
January 21, 2026
A croaker pedigree farm has been built at the Ongjin West Sea Fish Farm. The pedigree farm has an office building, welfare
The Central Committee of the Workers' Party of Korea sent a congratulatory message to the 14th Congress of the Communist Party of
January 21, 2026
The Central Committee of the Workers' Party of Korea sent a congratulatory message to the 14th Congress of the Communist Party of
The Ryongsong Machine Complex, where a flaming torch was lit to create the Chollima spirit in the new era, has turned into a
January 20, 2026
The Ryongsong Machine Complex, where a flaming torch was lit to create the Chollima spirit in the new era, has turned into a
Comrades,I express gratitude to the workers of Ryongsong, teachers and researchers from Kim Chaek University of Technology and Pyo
January 20, 2026
Comrades,I express gratitude to the workers of Ryongsong, teachers and researchers from Kim Chaek University of Technology and Pyo
The Mexican President said in a press conference on January 13 that her country would maintain a foreign policy based on equality
January 20, 2026
The Mexican President said in a press conference on January 13 that her country would maintain a foreign policy based on equality
The ideal socialist villages indicative of the Korean-style civilization of the countryside sprang up at the Chollisong Farm in
January 20, 2026
The ideal socialist villages indicative of the Korean-style civilization of the countryside sprang up at the Chollisong Farm in
The participants in the celebrations of the 80th founding anniversary of the Socialist Patriotic Youth League toured Pyongyang.
January 20, 2026
The participants in the celebrations of the 80th founding anniversary of the Socialist Patriotic Youth League toured Pyongyang.
More Articles
