Observations placeholder
Korean mystic shamanism – Methods – Flute, zither, reeds and fiddles
Identifier
027001
Type of Spiritual Experience
Background
A description of the experience
Shamanism, music and the soul – Keith Howard
Percussion instruments are not the only instruments of rituals. In Korea today, the melodic line-up varies, often including flute (taegum], bowed zither (ajaeng), and fiddle [haegum).Variety reflects availability and the fickle vagaries of musicians, but the oboe, with an oversize double reed lending itself to considerable pitch and embouchure adjustment, is always a core instrument. The oboe, shamans have explained to me, is the instrument closest to the human voice. It can, virtually alone amongst instruments, offer portamenti, rapid and large melodic leaps, and wide and sudden dynamic fluctuations. It can plead, full of emotion, and as a consequence is considered the instrument spirits most readily respond to.
The source of the experience
Korean mystic shamanismConcepts, symbols and science items
Concepts
Science Items
Activities and commonsteps
Commonsteps
Listening to drones and bagpipesListening to flutes and pipes
Listening to lutes, lyres and fiddles