A Study on Aspects of Mode Expansion of the Pentatonic Scale in the North Korean Folk Music

The North Korean folk Music is characterized by the pentatonic scale, which is made up of the five tones of gong (C), shang (D), jue (E), zhi (G), and yu (A). There are five corresponding modes in it: gong mode, shang mode, jue mode, zhi mode and yu mode. It contains a unique 'sigimsae' (decorative expressions) and and exhibits a unique style. Given the researches on the pentatonic scale modes in the North Korean folk Music from 1950 to 2000, it is divided into studies on structural characteristics and types of the modes based on 'pyongjo three-tone serial' and 'gemyongjo three-tone serial' and studies on the mode expansion. Among those, the researches on the mode expansion are generally based on Hwang Min-myung's theory. This study examines the theoretical background and formation process of the pentatonic scale modes in the North Korean folk songs and analyzes the structure and tone characteristics between 'basic scale modes' and 'expanded scale modes', which have not yet been studied by the theory of expansion of the pentatonic scale modes in folk songs. Furthere, it seeks theoretical study on the modal development, aspects of modulation, and aspects of modal change in the same serial of extended scale modes. Therefore, this studycomposes the mode scales based on Hwang Min-myung's theory of the expansion of the pentatonic scale modes and divides the corresponding extended modes into 9 types. Among them, it is found that 'same serial modulation' and 'same tonic-note modulation' are made between scale modes due to the characteristics of 'same serials' and 'same scale modes' that appear in modes and extended scale modes in accordance to the alternative notes such as B, Bb, C#, Eb, F, and F#. This study aims to suggest the possibility of the development of the pentatonic scale modes in the Korean folk music. Therefore, it is expected that research on the pentatonic scale modes in Korea and other countries around the world will serve as a theoretical foundation for the creation of music by presenting the direction of research results that strengthen the basic frame of theory.