Geumbo (Scores for Geomungo)

Basic information

Designation

Treasure No.283

Category

Books & Records

Era

조선 선조 5년(1572)

Designated year

1963

Location

성북구, 서울특별시— 서울특별시 성북구 성북로 102-11 (성북동, 간송미술관)

Coordinates

37.589116, 127.018215

Geomungo is a musical score for the traditional Korean musical instrument called geomungo. Composed by An Sang in 1572 (the 5th year of King Seonjo’s reign), it's the oldest woodblock-print of musical score found in Korea. The introduction explains that An Sang composed this piece of music because he noticed that their books for testing new court musicians didn’t contain any methods of using melodies or the pick for playing geomungo. So he ordered court musicians to take a part in publishing this musical score. The book is divided into three parts: The first part consists of the author's preface and the logic and skill to play geomungo and so on. The second part includes Jeongseokga, Hallimbyeolgok, Yeomillak, and six other music. The last part is composed of skills, tactics and music of the lute. This book has unique information about Tang's lute and is regarded as the one of the most basic music with Siyonghyangakbo because it deals various musical styles before the Japanese Invasion of Korea in 1592.

Location