Black Corporation: Joseon - Chapter 315

Episode 315 Battle (1)

Starting with Gyeongjang, the entire Joseon Dynasty was changing, and the process seemed to be mostly smooth.

However, there were many areas where various problems were intertwined and the results were sluggish.

One of them was the arrangement of music that Park Yeon and Anpyeong were obsessed with.

* * *

King Sejong was keenly aware of the need to reorganize music.

In Confucianism, which Joseon chose as its national ideology, observing etiquette was important. Therefore, it was very important to observe the five rites – the good rites, the funeral rites, the wedding rites, the ceremonial rites, and the military rites.

And music was almost always included in these ceremonies.

That is why King Sejong was keenly aware of the need for music maintenance.

“Do you know someone who is well-versed in Confucianism as well as art studies, is well-versed in music theory, and is good at playing musical instruments?”

In response to King Sejong’s request, the ministers immediately recommended Park Yeon, and King Sejong entrusted the mission to Park Yeon.

And Anpyeong got caught in the middle.

* * *

Anpyeong joined in the middle, but Anpyeong was also quite talented.

Therefore, progress seemed to be going well, but soon conflicts began to arise between Park Yeon and Anpyeong.

This was due to differences in values regarding music.

Unlike Park Yeon, who only valued the ancient Chinese music, Aak, Anpyeong said that the folk music, Hyangak and Dangak, were also valuable, which caused a conflict.

The conflict that arose due to differences in values was quite serious and eventually led to Anpyeong going to Hyang to complain.

“Abama will solve it.”

“yes? “How did Abamama do it?”

“Trust me. It is said that those who believe will be blessed.”

“yes?”

Anpyeong tilted his head at Hyang’s words, but in the end, he waited for Sejong’s decision.

And Sejong did not deviate from Hyang’s expectations.

King Sejong rejected Park Yeon’s opinion that only Aak should be used in ancestral rites performed by the royal family and the country.

“Aak is not originally a Korean sound, but a Chinese sound. Chinese people would be familiar with hearing it on a daily basis, so it would be normal to play Aak during ancestral rites. However, the people of our country always listen to Hyangak while alive, so wouldn’t it be strange if they listened to Aak when they died?” (Note 1)

According to King Sejong’s decision, Park Yeon was in charge of organizing not only Aak but also Hyangak and Dangak.

And Anpyeong found the incense and shouted with joy.

“It is as you said! “Abama has solved it!”

“yes? Then work hard.”

“yes!”

* * *

Park Yeon agreed to King Sejong’s point and focused on his work again. Anpyeong also did his best to carry out the work.

But the two soon encountered a reef: a problem with the score.

Eastern music was composed of 12 musical scales. In Western music, it was divided into 12 scales within one octave.

The problem with the score that both Park Yeon and Anpyeong faced was that the scores so far had recorded the pitch and pitch of the notes, but not the exact beat or rhythm.

Problems of rhythm and decorative sounds used to make the music stand out were memorized and passed down to priests through rigorous oral training. .

“Until this problem is resolved, it cannot be called a proper arrangement.”

Park Yeon also nodded and agreed to Anpyeong’s words.

“I agree.”

Even at this time, there was something similar to sheet music, but it merely recorded the musical scales. The rhythms and ornaments were passed down orally or marked with their own unique symbols, but there was a problem that third parties could not recognize them.

Park Yeon and An Pyeong’s goal now was to create a standard score that anyone who knows how to play a musical instrument could read and understand immediately.

* * *

After thinking about this and that and finding a way to find a solution, Anpyeong did not come up with a satisfactory result, so Anpyeong looked for incense again.

“… So we need a way to solve this. “Everyone in Joseon knows that you are very talented, so I hope you will give me a good answer.”

“Oh my…”

Anpyeong’s words made Hyang look embarrassed.

Hyang also liked music and enjoyed going to karaoke, but he wasn’t at the level of a fanatic. Or, to be more precise, the music was missing due to the scent.

‘What should I do with this…’

Hyang, who was searching for memories with a confused face, became bright after remembering one memory.

“Let’s go to Abama Ma!”

“yes?”

“Abama will know the answer! “Didn’t you give me the answer last time too?”

“That’s true, but…”

Hyang shouted inwardly, dragging the skeptical Anpyeong towards Geunjeongjeon.

‘I’m a cheat, but Abamama is outside the standard! A true genius!’

* * *

“Hmm…. Is that so?”

Sejong, who heard Hyang and Anpyeong’s words, looked interested.

Sejong, who thought about this and that for a while, stood up.

“I think you will find the answer when you see the actual music being played… Listen to the scriptures. “Let’s take a break.”

“Your Highness…” Lee Jik,

who was trying to stop Sejong’s words declaring the suspension of the meeting, froze when Sejong’s expression turned fierce.

“I understand your thoughts well, but organizing the music is also important. And I’ve been having meetings since morning, so I’m a little tired both mentally and physically. Since I can’t come up with any good ideas like this, I think it would be better to take a break and resume.”

The ministers immediately bowed their heads at King Sejong’s words.

“I follow your orders!”

* * *

Sejong, who came out of Geunjeongjeon with Hyang and Anpyeong, looked back at Hyang and Anpyeong.

“Which is better, the study of classical music or the study of music?”

Anpyeong thought for a moment about King Sejong’s question, then came forward and answered.

“If you want to see the sheet music that is currently being organized, the Akhak Book is the right place, and if you want to see the musicians’ performances, the Complete Music Book is the place to go.”

In response to Anpyeong’s answer, King Sejong decided on his destination.

“Then let’s go to Jeonakseo.”

“Yes Abama.”

* * *

When King Sejong arrived at Jeonakseo, Park Yeon-do, who had received the message, came into Jeonakseo in a huff.

“I’d like to see you, Your Majesty!”

“Yes, thank you for your hard work. “There’s a lot of hard work involved in making sheet music?”

“I apologize for the inconvenience caused.”

“Well, that could be the case.”

Park Yeon let out a small sigh of relief at Sejong’s reaction. If King Sejong had not liked it, he would have immediately received the following criticism.

“If you apologize, you shouldn’t create something to apologize for!”

King Sejong gathered the musicians and gave them orders.

“Why… try playing jeongak?”

According to King Sejong’s orders, the musicians did their best to play jeongak.

King Sejong, who had been listening to the musicians’ performance for a while, nodded slightly and gave a small order to the merchant ship that followed.

After a while, the merchant brought a long cane and politely handed it to King Sejong. Sejong took the cane and spoke to the musicians.

“When I hit the ground once, it utters one syllable. Remember this well, keep the beat, and play again when I give you the hand….”

“Yes.”

“Then…”

Sejong raised his staff and struck the ground regularly.

The musicians, who were nodding their heads and measuring the beat, immediately started playing when King Sejong made a gesture.

The faces of Park Yeon and Anpyeong, who were listening to the performance around King Sejong, changed drastically.

‘The performance has changed!’

‘The misalignment has decreased!’

“Hmm….”

After checking the results, Sejong got up and left.

“Thank you for your hard work. “I hope you push forward a little more.”

“I follow your orders!”

After finishing his business with the musicians, King Sejong entered the music school building with Park Yeon and Anpyeong-hyang.

Entering the conference room, Sejong unfolded the paper and continued speaking.

“If we divide one space like this with the letter ‘well’ (井) and write the name of the law, wouldn’t we be able to recognize the rhythm with our eyes? If you write 1 character in 1 space, it’s an onbak, and if you write 2 characters, it’s a refutation. “It goes something like this.”

“ah!”

Hyang and Park Yeon-pyeong both exclaimed in exclamation at Sejong’s explanation.

Park Yeon shouted in a trembling voice.

“Yes! “This way you will be able to recognize me right away!”

“So is this a good answer?”

Park Yeon and Anpyeong answered King Sejong’s question at the same time.

“That is enough of an answer! “Seong-eun is devastated!”

“okay? Thank goodness. Then work hard. Anpyeong works hard too.”

“Yes Abama!”

King Sejong’s face was full of vitality as he left Akhak.

“As expected, I feel energized after cooling my head for a while. “Things will go well today.”

“I am truly fortunate.”

Hyang’s face was slightly tired as she agreed with Sejong’s words.

‘It wasn’t a rumor, it was the truth! It’s really out of standard!’

It was Hyang’s attempt to remember the part about King Sejong making Jeongganbo in one evening from the history told by Samcheonpo, and the result was incredible. (Note 1) * *

*

King Sejong set the framework, but that was the end. It wasn’t. Contemplation continued over how to compose the score.

“Shall I try that part?”

Anpyeong and Park Yeon were delighted when the scent came out.

“Are you really helping me?”

“I’ll make a draft first.”

Hyanghyang, who spoke in front of the two people, came up with a draft of Jeongganbo after much thought.

I don’t know if it was a coincidence or intentional, but the Jeongganbo made by Hyang was closer to the improved Jeongganbo made in the late 20th century than the authentic Jeongganbo used by Joseon in history before Hyang intervened.

“It was divided into 6 sections and 1 section, and each section was divided into 9 sections. And to avoid confusion, the outer space was painted in thick black, and the inner compartments were divided by thin blue lines. And I left space between verses so I could write lyrics or make other marks. How are you? Anpyeong? How about gourd manufacturing?”

Anpyeong, who was looking at the Jeongganbo, answered Hyang’s question with a big smile.

“It’s best!”

However, Park Yeon answered in a slightly worried voice.

“It’s easy to see and write down, but wouldn’t it be difficult to print it?”

Hyang smiled broadly and responded to Park Yeon’s concerns.

“ha ha ha! For the craftsmen at Area 51 and the main office, this is a piece of cake!”

* * *

While printing textbooks and currency in large quantities for the Social Democratic Institute, craftsmen in Area 51 and Jujaso became masters of type, typemaking, and printing.

The intaglio technology using the etching technique learned from Pietro and Raphael, as well as the multicolor printing introduced when printing money, were no longer a problem.

For such artisans, printing Jeongganbo was an easy task.

And with the use of yellow paper, mass printing became possible at a low cost.

Until the scores of Aak and Hyangak were organized and officially published, the Jeonggan printed on yellow paper was sufficient.

* * *

As Jeongganbo paper was supplied in large quantities, the speed of sheet music organization was further accelerated.

Even the most experienced and skilled musicians were selected to participate in the work, and the production of symbols that indicated decorative sounds and performance techniques proceeded smoothly.

Thanks to this, the arrangement of Aak and Hyangyak Dangak will soon be fruitful.

In that situation, Park Yeon and Anpyeong clashed again.

Miscellaneous songs sung among the people led to conflict.

“The voices of the people are also music. That too must be recorded and recorded!”

“The miscellaneous songs sung by the people are just sounds! “It’s not music!”

The two people clashed once again.

* * *

Note 1) The Annals of King Sejong, read in one volume. Written by Park Young-gyu. Woongjin Knowledge House.