Danga

“Danga is a short song and is offered before a pansori piece by a pansori singer, who prepares his or her vocal cords by singing a danga and also attracts peoples attention, letting them prepare for the pansori performance. Sin Jaehyo, who compiled pansori narratives in the latter half of the 19th century, wrote 15 danga pieces named "Heoduga", meaning "songs presented at first".

Danga, presented before a main song, is simpler in rhythm, melody, and the way of singing, even though Danga, presented before a main song, is simpler in rhythm, melody, and the way of singing, even though they are almost similar with pansori. For examples, the rhythm of danga is usually jungmori-jangdan, or moderato, its melodies are pyeongjo, offering a feeling of brightness, or ujo, providing a feeling of self-satisfaction and freedom. Only a few of danga have the melody of gyemyeonjo, with a saddened feeling. Stories of danga are about former great kings, heroes, beauties, journeys to nature, and the transiency of life. There are about 40 to 50 danga pieces performed these days. The most popular 15 pieces among them include Jingung-myeongsan (pacifying mountains), Baekbalga (silvery-hair song), Honamga (song of Homan), and Undampunggyeong (beautiful scenery).



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