Sanjo (music)
Sanjo, literally meaning 'scattered melodies', is a style of traditional Korean music, involving an instrumental solo accompanied by drumming on the "janggu", an hourglass-shaped drum. The art of "sanjo" is a real crystallization of traditional Korean melody and rhythm which may have been handed down by rote generation after generation. The drummer who beats the "janggu" also makes "chuimsae" (exclamations) in order to please the audience. The audience can also express their excited feeling with "chuimsae" while listening to "sanjo". A big "chuimsae" indicates a good performance, so the musician can make a better performance. Like "pansori , chuimsae" plays an important role in "sanjo". Without "chuimsae", the music is meaningless. "Chuimsae" connects musician and audience during a "sanjo" performance. Almost every Korean traditional musical instrument is used in "sanjo": gayageum, geomungo, daegeum, haegeum, piri, taepyeongso, ajaeng, danso. "Sanjo" was said to be developed around 1890 by Kim Chang-jo (1865–1920) for the "gayageum". Thereafter, it was expanded to other traditional Korean instruments, including the "geomungo" and Korean flutes. Its early development was informed by other genres of traditional music, including "pansori", "sinawi", and the performances of Korean shamanism. "Daegeum sanjo", played on the "daegeum" (a traditional Korean  transverse flute) was developed in the 1920s. It has since become one of the most popular forms of "sanjo". Its leading practitioner today is Yi Saenggang. Sanjo is traditionally identified as a form of "minsogak", or folk music. Composition. The composition of "sanjo" varies depending on the people, instruments and time. However, usually "sanjo" starts with a slow "jinyangjo" rhythm (hangul: 진양조장단; very slow rhythm used in "pansori" or "sanjo") and becomes faster, ending with a very fast rhythm like a "danmori" rhythm and creating enthusiasm in the audience. Starting from a slow rhythm, the audience can gradually sink into  the melody of the song. "Sanjo" expresses various aspects of the player. "Sanjo"s are not fixed music. The musician can make new music with original variations. "Sanjo" has endless melodies in which musicians make new compositions that change with the times.