Chapter 15 …
Mozart in Joseon
Third Court
First Meeting (5)
It was the day of the first music lesson.
My heart was pounding. I had been waiting since the chickens crowed, but Eulji-su didn’t show his face until the sun was fully up.
“Is there something on my face?”
When I glared at him in anger, Eulji-su looked flustered and asked.
“Next time, be quicker.”
“I left at the correct hour as you instructed… If you tell me the proper time, I will follow it.”
“It would be better the day before class. We might as well have dinner too.”
“Pardon?”
“Anyway, come in quickly.”
I could not waste the one day in three that I had.
I urged the dazed Eulji-su into the guest room.
Eulji-su began the lesson.
“In court music, there are Aak and Dangak.”
“Mm.”
“Aak is used for rituals, and Dangak is used for annual ceremonies. Their use and structure differ greatly.”
“Mm.”
“Today, I will teach you about Aak.”
I nodded, and Eulji-su peeked at me and asked,
“Do you need to take notes?”
“I remember after hearing once, so don’t worry.”
Eulji-su tilted his head for a moment, then began explaining.
“Aak uses seven tones. Five of them are important; they are as follows.”
Eulji-su plucked my geomungo, playing Do, Re, Mi, Sol, and La.
“These are called Gong, Sang, Gak, Chi, and Wu, respectively.”
“I know them as Hwangjong, Taeju, Goseon, Imjong, and Namryeo. Is there a reason for these separate names?”
I asked, curious because I knew that in Joseon, ‘Do’ was called ‘Hwangjong.’ Eulji-su was startled.
“That’s right. The sound is the same, but their use differs.”
Eulji-su went into a long explanation.
In short, Joseon also has movable-do, which implies a concept of key.
As I had felt before, it was surprising that even in an environment not conducive to musical development, the system was clearly established.
“I understand.”
“Do you really understand?”
Eulji-su asked anxiously, and when I explained back what I had understood, his eyes widened.
It was not surprising that a child had good comprehension, but wasting time repeatedly would be troublesome.
“Next.”
“Yes. Then I will explain the meaning of Gong, Sang, Gak, Chi, and Wu.”
Eulji-su picked up a brush.
“Gong is the central sound, representing the king. It corresponds to the earth.”
He wrote Gong (宮), and beside it, wrote Earth (土), probably symbolizing centrality.
The rest:
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Sang (Re) represents ministers and metal.
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Gak (Mi) represents the people and wood.
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Chi (Sol) represents objects and fire.
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Wu (La) represents intention and water.
It seems that in Joseon, each tone had meaning.
Europe also had meanings for scale names:
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Do – Dominus (God)
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Re – Resonare (to resound)
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Mi – Mira (miracle)
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Fa – Famuli (family)
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Sol – Solve (salvation)
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La – Labii (teacher)
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Si – Sancte Iohannes (St. John)
Thus, the Do-Mi-Sol tonic chord meant “God works a miracle to save.”
Since Joseon’s scales also had meaning, chords might convey meaning too.
For example, the tonic chord: Do is the king, Mi is the people, Sol is fire.
“The king… burns the people?”
“Pardon?”
Eulji-su blinked in surprise.
If I hadn’t spoken in German, it could have caused a huge misunderstanding.
“It’s nothing. Next?”
I urged him on, unable to restrain my desire to learn more.
A month passed since I started learning music from Eulji-su.
I kept the promise I made to Grandfather and studied Jeongak while getting familiar with the geomungo, keeping myself busy.
Thanks to that, I completed a piece suited to Joseon and the geomungo, but there was no one to hear it.
Since I had promised Grandfather to only study Jeongak, I needed to find someone else.
“Haengrang father.”
“Oh, young master. I’m on an errand for the apothecary, so I must go quickly.”
“Is that so? Alright.”
Haengrang father hurried out the main gate.
Mother said she was visiting my maternal uncle who was ill; I guessed she had sent him on an errand.
I needed to find someone else.
“Yeongcheon madam.”
“Oh my! Look at me. I’ve been letting this boil all this time!”
“……”
Yeongcheon madam waved her hands in front of the hearth, unsure what to do.
It seemed the food in the cauldron was burnt.
“Busy?”
“Yes. I’m in a frenzy right now. Would you like some snack?”
Yeongcheon madam placed a plate of rice cakes on a small table and carried it to the floor.
Then she clapped her hands and ran back to the kitchen.
Today, everyone was unusually busy.
I realized it was better not to perform the piece for the servants.
If I played something different, they would surely tattle to Grandfather. It would be disadvantageous to me.
I just needed to perform it for my allies, Father and Mother.
Mother had gone to visit my uncle, so I looked for Father in the study.
He was out on the porch, wearing shoes.
“Father.”
“Oh, Gaedong-ah.”
“Just a moment.”
“I’m on my way out for urgent business.”
“Urgent business?”
“Among my friends, there’s one named Park Pyeong… No, that’s not something for you to hear. Anyway, if anyone asks, tell them I went to Baektap.”
Father hurried even to take the horse from the stable himself.
After finally composing a new piece, it was pitiful that there was no one to hear it.
“Young master.”
Someone called me while I was sitting on the porch eating rice cake.
I turned and saw Eulji-su bowing.
“Seems you misjudged the day.”
“Pardon?”
“Class is tomorrow, isn’t it? Still, since you came, I will have some rice cake.”
“Thank you.”
Eulji-su quietly held his hands together.
Once he refuses, he won’t take it, so you have to insist—such formalities are bothersome.
“Don’t refuse, have one.”
“Thank you.”
Only then did Eulji-su take a songpyeon.
Wait.
Come to think of it, the best audience had found me on its own.
Eulji-su would understand my music perfectly.
“I have a tune that goes very well with rice cakes, though you may not be curious.”
If he wasn’t curious, I’d just not serve snacks during class for a while.
“I am not curious.”
“……”
“By the way, I came to ask for your understanding because tomorrow’s lesson will be difficult.”
“What?”
My heart sank.
“What do you mean?”
“A noble guest is coming suddenly to the place I work, and they asked me to help. The work will likely take long, so it may affect tomorrow’s class. I ask for your consideration.”
“You mean Choonmongjae?”
“Ahem.”
Eulji-su just cleared his throat.
“I see. Pretending I don’t know won’t work. You have that kind of discernment.”
“I cannot say anything.”
“Of course. Grandfather surely warned you strictly. But a noble guest, you say?”
“I don’t know precisely, but they say he is very noble.”
“How noble?”
“Very noble.”
Even when I peeked at his face, he just repeated the words.
It must really be a high-ranking person if Eulji-su, unaware of the situation, cannot reveal who will hear the performance.
Even in Europe, there were often parties hosted by royalty or nobles who avoided revealing their identities.
So I could understand if Eulji-su was suddenly asked for help.
“I know you treasure my lessons, but since Danwol owes a great debt, I cannot refuse. Please consider this.”
Danwol must be the woman I met at Choonmongjae.
“Choonmongjae, right?”
Eulji-su quickly covered his mouth.
It was a shame to postpone class, but this was a rare opportunity for Eulji-su.
Even without this, with fewer banquets, he had few chances to perform. Now he had an opportunity before a noble.
As a fellow musician, I couldn’t take that away.
“Very well.”
“Thank you.”
Eulji-su bowed deeply.
“I’ve composed a tune. Please listen.”
“Coincidentally, I have to check the harmony in advance, so I should be going.”
“……Then at least let me hear what you will perform today.”
I was curious what kind of piece someone of such high status would enjoy.
Someday, I would act like Eulji-su; it would be a valuable lesson.
“Time is short; I’ll let you hear it next time. I will take my leave.”
“Just a little, then.”
“I’m sorry, I promised Madam of the house, so I cannot.”
“Just a little. I will keep it secret from my Grandfather.”
Eulji-su, despite being annoyed, bowed politely and left.
“Yeongcheon madam.”
“…….”
“Yeongcheon madam!”
“Yes? Yes!”
“From now on, no snacks during sound lessons!”
“How is this possible?”
All day, I couldn’t find a single audience member.
Thousands or tens of thousands sought my performances in Europe, yet this was my first humiliation.
Even the servants seemed too tired and went to bed early.
Grandfather and Father hadn’t returned, leaving the mansion eerily quiet.
I didn’t know being a noble could be so cumbersome. In Europe, nobles enjoyed performances and music too.
“No matter how I think about it, it’s strange.”
Music itself is enjoyable. For the privileged, it should naturally be an amusement. This oppressive environment was puzzling.
“Is it just Grandfather?”
I had never heard other households’ stories. Perhaps ours was unique in shunning popular music.
Sigh.
I envied Eulji-su, surely having fun now.
I wanted to escape this tedious university even for a short walk.
Yes. Even though I study so hard, can’t I just watch a little?
Tomorrow is the usual day for music class.
“……”
I pricked up my ears.
Only the sounds of insects, no human presence.
Perhaps I could sneak out like last time. There should be enough time before curfew. I could just listen and return.
I slowly opened the door—indeed, no one was around. I quietly slipped into shoes and tiptoed, climbing a tree.
“Just a walk, that’s all.”
Having done this before, climbing the fence was easier.
I had no wish for Grandfather to catch me, so today I’d just listen outside and return.
Walking briskly, Choonmongjae soon came into view.
The ensemble of geomungo, gayageum, daegeum, and sogum grew closer.
My heart raced.
“Ah.”
Today’s ensemble was faster than any piece I had heard in Joseon.
Not only fast, but the scales used were unusually wide—not allowed in Jeongak.
“Ah, yes. Music befitting a banquet.”
A chance to properly hear Joseon’s popular music.
I found a spot under the fence and listened closely.
Clang! The sound of something breaking rang out.
The music stopped.
“I said I’m not in the mood.”
A heavily drunk man said.
“Do you think I came here to hear this nonsense?”
Something was happening inside the fence.
“I-I have committed a grave sin.”
Eulji-su’s voice.
The atmosphere was tense.
I wanted to see what was happening but could not find a tree to climb.
“Hahaha! Committed a grave sin?”
The mad laughter sent chills down my spine.
“What will you do? Sacrifice your neck to amuse me?”
“P-please spare me. I—”
A metallic scrape sounded, followed by a woman’s scream. She had probably drawn a knife.
“If you want to live, entertain me! Hurry!”
I roughly understood the situation.
Some noble drunkard was harassing Eulji-su.
“I-I, I…”
Eulji-su was so scared he could barely speak. From his trembling voice, he likely couldn’t perform.
Someone should intervene, but strangely, no one did.
“…Seems your skill is inadequate.”
The madman spoke in a chillingly cold voice.
“You said you committed a grave sin. I shall punish you personally.”
“P-please spare me!”
“Want to live? After committing a grave sin, you want to live?”
“Yes! If I die, there will be no one to care for my mother.”
“Ah. That’s unfortunate. Then shall I kill this one instead?”
“Th-That is…”
“Choose. Will you die, or will he die?”
“…I—I…”
Eulji-su didn’t know what to do.
After rambling, he said what he shouldn’t have.
“I will die.”
“Wait!”
I shouted instinctively.
I had no way to explain to Grandfather later, but I couldn’t just let Eulji-su suffer.
“I will take your place!”
Footnotes:
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Named by Italian monk Guido d’Arezzo in the 11th century.
The hymn Ut queant laxis had each phrase starting a scale step higher, and the initial syllables were used as note names. ‘Ut’ later became ‘Do’ in the 17th century. The previously absent note ‘Si’ came from the initials of Sancte Iohanne. -
German proverb: Das ist ein Spaziergang — “Just a walk,” meaning something easily done, similar to “piece of cake.”
