Tanso is the smallest traditional wind instrument of Korea. You can play it while holding it sideways to your mouth.
For its short length it was also called tanjok.
In the later years of the feudal Joson dynasty (1392-1910) tanso was widely propagated among the people.
The instrument differs in timbre: soft and low in bass; limpid, beautiful and doleful in mean; strong, conspicuous and distinct in treble; sharp and slightly hoarse in soprano.
It is rich in power of expressiveness. It can produce plenty of vibrato, grace and microtone effects and imitate the natural sound effects including various tones of birdsong. It can represent both slow and lyric, quick and enlivening music and also can be used in accompaniment.
It is easy to carry. Like other traditional instruments, it was remade with the progress of the times, in the course of which one with a higher octave range was newly developed.
Nowadays it is widely used in solo, ensemble and concerto. In particular, it can play a leading part in a concerto with orchestra. It also takes an important share in sustaining the national features in orchestral music. Its musical tone is B flat.
Kim Wi Hyok
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