정자소리 선율의 구조와 형식

The Melodic Structure and Form of Chŏngja sori

Minyo or folk songs have no fixed form but change with the time and place in which they are performed. This can make it difficult to identify their distinguishing features. The present study attempts to identify the general features of 45 examples of Chŏngja sori (rice planting and transplanting songs) from a published compilation. As a result of this examination, the pieces were grouped into four categories, according to their tempo and melodic charateristics. The pieces exhibited numerous ways of varying and embellishing the structural tones of the melody, but nevertheless conformed to a consistent melodic type in which the basic melodic phrases might be varied by dropping a note from either the beginning or the end. It was found, finally, that the faster the tempo, the simpler the melodic structure.