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How does pyeongjo shape the mood of a pansori performance?

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See and hear a man play a Korean buk — pansori Learn about the Korean *buk* (double-headed barrel drum) by watching and listening to a man play the type of *buk* that accompanies *pansori* narrative singing.

In pansori, the melodic mode known as pyeongjo is essential for establishing the emotional landscape of a performance. While other modes like kyemyeonjo evoke pathos and ujo project magnificence and vigor, pyeongjo is specifically characterized by its ability to embody a sense of serenity.12

As a melodic framework, pyeongjo utilizes an anhemitonic pentatonic scale, which consists of five pitches without semitones. The mood is shaped not only by these specific pitch intervals but also by unique conventions of ornamentation and the frequency with which certain pitches are emphasized. By grounding the narrative in this serene mode, performers can effectively reinforce the emotional potency of the story being told.1