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
Belarus President Alexander Lukashenko said at a talk on January 19 that the country should develop its economy by its own
January 27, 2026
Belarus President Alexander Lukashenko said at a talk on January 19 that the country should develop its economy by its own
The German prime minister at a press conference on January 19 resisted the US’ tariff pressure in relation to the Greenland issue.
January 27, 2026
The German prime minister at a press conference on January 19 resisted the US’ tariff pressure in relation to the Greenland issue.
Construction projects conducive to developing the self-supporting economy have been completed one after another in different parts
January 27, 2026
Construction projects conducive to developing the self-supporting economy have been completed one after another in different parts
Ryu Kum Hui is one of the talented film artistes. Born in Hamhung City, South Hamgyong Province, she was gifted with a clear voice
January 27, 2026
Ryu Kum Hui is one of the talented film artistes. Born in Hamhung City, South Hamgyong Province, she was gifted with a clear voice
The Musan Mining Complex carried out the blasting of one million cubic metres of earth on January 25. The successful blasting
January 27, 2026
The Musan Mining Complex carried out the blasting of one million cubic metres of earth on January 25. The successful blasting
Kimchi is one of the typical foods of the DPRK. A unique processed vegetable made through lactic fermentation of vegetable, kimchi
January 27, 2026
Kimchi is one of the typical foods of the DPRK. A unique processed vegetable made through lactic fermentation of vegetable, kimchi
The Pukchang Thermal Power Complex is bringing about a great upsurge in production. Last year the complex conducted maintenance
January 27, 2026
The Pukchang Thermal Power Complex is bringing about a great upsurge in production. Last year the complex conducted maintenance
On January 18, Denmark, Finland, France, Germany, the Netherlands, Norway, Sweden and the UK issued a joint statement against the
January 26, 2026
On January 18, Denmark, Finland, France, Germany, the Netherlands, Norway, Sweden and the UK issued a joint statement against the
The prime minister of Greenland reaffirmed the stand to defend the right to self-determination on January 19. The oppressive moves
January 26, 2026
The prime minister of Greenland reaffirmed the stand to defend the right to self-determination on January 19. The oppressive moves
Modern rural dwellings are springing up one after another in Kangwon Province amid the news of ceremonies of moving into new
January 26, 2026
Modern rural dwellings are springing up one after another in Kangwon Province amid the news of ceremonies of moving into new
Sariwon Ri Kye Sun University of Education has been newly built in North Hwanghae Province. The university has school buildings,
January 26, 2026
Sariwon Ri Kye Sun University of Education has been newly built in North Hwanghae Province. The university has school buildings,
The Farm Machine Institute has been successfully built as the central base for leading the comprehensive mechanization of
January 26, 2026
The Farm Machine Institute has been successfully built as the central base for leading the comprehensive mechanization of
A fish pickling workshop has been built at the Hanchon Fishery Station. The construction of the base for producing various kinds
January 26, 2026
A fish pickling workshop has been built at the Hanchon Fishery Station. The construction of the base for producing various kinds
Kim Jong Un, general secretary of the Workers' Party of Korea and president of the State Affairs of the Democratic People's
January 26, 2026
Kim Jong Un, general secretary of the Workers' Party of Korea and president of the State Affairs of the Democratic People's
The Iraqi government on January 18 announced the US-led international allied forces completely withdrew from military bases in the
January 25, 2026
The Iraqi government on January 18 announced the US-led international allied forces completely withdrew from military bases in the
According to an American organization, more than 400 large-scale shooting cases occurred in the US last year, causing over 40 000
January 25, 2026
According to an American organization, more than 400 large-scale shooting cases occurred in the US last year, causing over 40 000
Fairyland villages were built in different farms in Junghwa and Singye counties of North Hwanghae Province, epitomizing the change
January 25, 2026
Fairyland villages were built in different farms in Junghwa and Singye counties of North Hwanghae Province, epitomizing the change
Kim Jong Un, general secretary of the Workers’ Party of Korea and president of the State Affairs of the Democratic People’s
January 25, 2026
Kim Jong Un, general secretary of the Workers’ Party of Korea and president of the State Affairs of the Democratic People’s
The Workers’ Party of Korea is organizing and conducting in a bold way the work to realign the farm fields of the country into
January 24, 2026
The Workers’ Party of Korea is organizing and conducting in a bold way the work to realign the farm fields of the country into
European countries are strongly resisting the US’ threat to impose from February 1 10 percent tariff on those countries which do n
January 24, 2026
European countries are strongly resisting the US’ threat to impose from February 1 10 percent tariff on those countries which do n
More Articles
