'–a''', but in practice the lowest pitch is never
used. Small gradations of pitch are obtained primarily through air pressure,
and the wide vibrato characteristic of Korean music is produced by varying the
angle of embouchure.End-blown
bamboo Notched flute of Korea (tan: ‘short’; so:
‘pipe’). It is about 39–40 cm long and has five finger-holes, the first of
which is in the rear; there is a small notch at the front of the upper end. The
instrument can produce a range of more than two octaves, g'–a''', but in practice the lowest pitch is never
used. Small gradations of pitch are obtained primarily through air pressure,
and the wide vibrato characteristic of Korean music is produced by varying the
angle of embouchure.
The tone of the tanso is pure and delicate, and the instrument is often played on its own. It is considered an easy flute to learn and is typically the initial choice for a beginner, preparatory to more advanced flutes like taegŭm and tangjŏk.
Although the name tanso (i.e. Chin. duanxiao) appears in China by the 1st century ce, the instrument is not mentioned in the Akhak kwebŏm (1493) and is thought to have been imported perhaps in the early 19th century. The Chinese flute xiao is a related instrument.
The tanso is used in quieter chamber ensembles, such as the ‘string’ ensemble for the suite Yŏngsan hoesang and the ensemble accompanying the lyrical song kagok. There are solos in both the court (e.g. Ch’ŏngsong chajin hanip) and the folk tradition (virtuoso sanjo), and a favourite duet, Suryongŭm, pairs the tanso with the mouth organ Saenghwang. The tanso is not used for ritual music (aak) or for tangak (‘Chinese music’).
Chang Sahun: Han’guk akki taegwan [Korean musical instruments] (Seoul. 1969), 35–6
Cho Sŏngnae: Tanso kyobon [Tanso manual] (Seoul, 1982–9)
K. Howard: Korean Musical Instruments: a Practical Guide (Seoul, 1988), 78–98
ROBERT C. PROVINE