Back when Hyang was Crown Prince, “Virgin Boatman” and “Soyang River Virgin” that he had taught to the gisaeng spread throughout the entire Empire.
However, at some point, the citizens began feeling fed up with them, and the singing girls and performers who noticed this responded by changing the lyrics.
But this was merely a stopgap measure. In most cases, the melodies and lyrics didn’t match well. They tried various methods like slightly adjusting the middle melodies to solve this, but it only brought worse results.
“The answer is new songs…”
The singing girls and performers wore troubled expressions. It was an obvious conclusion, but there was no way to solve it.
This was because the new miscellaneous songs were completely different in nature from the folk songs they had learned and mastered through oral tradition.
This was the same for Anpyeong, who had been criticized by Hyang.
“Your Majesty, are you commanding me to create new miscellaneous songs?”
“Indeed.”
At Hyang’s answer, Anpyeong’s decision was swift.
“This humble servant lacks the ability. Please withdraw your command!”
Though Anpyeong immediately refused without a second thought, Hyang didn’t back down either.
“The results the Duke has achieved so far prove your abilities, don’t they?
‘Cavalry of the Front Lines,’ ‘Soldiers of the Wilderness,’ ‘Battle Cry,’ and finally the ‘Imperial March’—didn’t they all come from the Duke’s hands?”
Anpyeong had played the biggest role in converting the theme songs from the ‘Dollar Trilogy’ and the ‘Imperial March’ into traditional Korean music.
Of course, Hyang had stepped in to teach the melodies and give advice, but it was Anpyeong who transcribed them, created the musical scores, made adjustments, and produced the final results.
“However…”
“There’s no one but the Duke.”
At Hyang’s firm words, Anpyeong had no choice but to bow his head.
“I receive your command.”
***
Having received Hyang’s command, Anpyeong pondered and pondered again, but couldn’t produce proper results.
“This isn’t it either!”
Anpyeong, who had been notating a melody that just came to mind on jeongganbo (traditional Korean musical notation), shouted and threw away the notation he had been writing.
“It sounds exciting in my head, but why does the excitement die when I transcribe it! Why! Why! Why!”
With a grieved expression, Anpyeong shouted and writhed.
“And I don’t even have enough time!”
‘Time’ was indeed the greatest enemy Anpyeong faced.
Since his duties as Entertainment Commissioner hadn’t decreased, Anpyeong had to squeeze time to focus on composition.
“Haah~. I must acknowledge what needs to be acknowledged.”
Letting out a long breath, Anpyeong turned his head toward Gyeongbokgung Palace.
“I must acknowledge that eldest brother’s abilities are extraordinary. He does everything he needs to do while also doing everything he wants to… He’s definitely not an ordinary person…”
Though he acknowledged Hyang’s excellence, Anpyeong’s expression wasn’t good at all.
“But does he think everyone is like him! If you assign work, at least reduce other duties! Even oxen collapse when worked like this! I can’t take it anymore!”
Jumping up from his seat, Anpyeong rushed straight to Gyeongbokgung Palace.
“…So either reduce my work or give me more time!”
At Anpyeong’s whining, Hyang wore an incredulous expression and asked.
“When did I ever give you a deadline to complete this?”
“Huh?”
At Hyang’s question, Anpyeong, wearing a blank expression, carefully retraced his memories.
“There really wasn’t one… Ah shit! I’m so used to hearing ‘finish by when’ every time… Damn!”
Unable to curse outright, Anpyeong pounded his chest in frustration. Seeing this, Hyang casually asked.
“Should I help you a bit?”
At Hyang’s words, Anpyeong prostrated himself and answered in a loud voice.
“Your grace is overwhelming!”
***
A few days later, notices were posted at the Music Academy and government offices nationwide.
- The Entertainment Office announces:
- We seek new miscellaneous songs.
- Only those with different melodies and different lyrics from existing miscellaneous songs will be recognized as new miscellaneous songs.
- Composers and lyricists of miscellaneous songs registered with the Entertainment Office will hold intellectual property rights to those songs.
- Composers and lyricists will receive revenue distribution according to how often their miscellaneous songs are performed at comprehensive entertainment venues.
(Rest omitted)
Seeing the official proclamation posted by the Entertainment Office, quite a few people began stirring.
“Should I give it a try?”
“You? That’s right! You do sing a bit!”
Those who were known for their singing in their neighborhoods and those who could play instruments began responding to the Entertainment Office’s proclamation.
What was interesting was that it wasn’t just people from the Empire who responded.
Among scholars and students staying in the Empire, those who could play instruments or had knowledge of music also took action.
“I could leave my name through music…”
Thus, at some point, people carrying musical notations and scores of miscellaneous songs they had created began gathering one by one at the Entertainment Office in Seoul.
Receiving the report, Anpyeong muttered with an incredulous expression.
“Results only come pouring in when money is involved…”
***
While new miscellaneous songs began appearing this way, it would take much more time before songs as popular as those spread by Hyang emerged.
“Look here, there’s only a melody but no lyrics?”
“Yes, this humble one lacks literary talent…”
“You can’t register with just a melody, so take it back and add lyrics.”
“Then couldn’t I add lyrics from existing miscellaneous songs?”
“Have you forgotten the condition that only songs with different melodies and different lyrics from existing miscellaneous songs will be recognized?”
Composers who were rejected for lacking lyrics soon wore out their feet searching for lyrics that would suit their miscellaneous songs.
The first people they sought were those renowned for writing poetry well in their neighborhoods.
“You scoundrel! You want me to write lyrics for your miscellaneous song? What do you take me for!”
The problem was that most such people were high-ranking scholarly officials.
Being doused with salt water or sewage was common, and in severe cases, they were even rolled up in straw mats.
Of course, when such incidents occurred, the police intervened.
After such hardships, composers found an alternative.
Retired gisaeng, especially those famous for writing poetry well.
The lyrics written by retired gisaeng were extremely poignant. Composers who obtained lyrics adjusted their melodies accordingly and then visited the Entertainment Office.
“Not bad. I’ll register it.”
“Thank you!”
“What thanks? Rather, I should thank you. So, which entertainment venue, when, and who will sing it?”
“That hasn’t been decided yet…”
“That part needs to be certain for you to receive revenue distribution later.”
“Yes, yes!”
After hearing the Entertainment Office official’s advice, the composer, after much deliberation, sought out the retired gisaeng again.
Through the retired gisaeng’s connections, the composer found a suitable singing girl and reported to the Entertainment Office.
***
When all these processes were complete, bulletin boards were posted at entertainment venues in the singing girl’s hometown.
“Oh? Maewol is singing a new miscellaneous song?”
“The title is… Pink First Love?”
With expectations of hearing new songs, residents visited the entertainment venues, and the audience seats prepared at the venue stages were packed with people.
After the song ended, people who liked the new song clapped and shouted loudly.
“Encore! Encore!”
“Once more! Once more!”
At people’s fervent requests, the singing girl smiled brightly and cleared her throat.
Meanwhile, beside the stage, an Entertainment Office official meticulously recorded these reactions.
Of course, not all new songs received such reactions. There were as many songs that received harsh criticism as those that received praise. And singing girls who sang well-received songs soon went on tours to nearby entertainment venues, and over time, to entertainment venues throughout the Empire—though reaching the New Frontier was still difficult.
However, since touring alone couldn’t meet demand, some singing girls sought out composers to negotiate permission to sing their songs. When such negotiations succeeded, contracts were established under the notarization of Entertainment Office officials.
In this way, well-received songs brought large sums of money to composers, lyricists, and singing girls.
Thanks to being state-operated entertainment venues, profit distribution was transparent, so no one harbored suspicions or complaints. As they handled large sums, composers, lyricists, and singing girls became happy, and the National Tax Service became happy along with them.
“Withholding tax is the best! Long live His Majesty the Emperor!”
As people making big money emerged this way, renowned singing girls sought out famous composers, begging for songs. Also, those who thought they had literary talent began moving with the goal of becoming lyricists. The same was true for composers.
Noble families that raised household singing girls did the same. While further refining the skills of their singing girls, they simultaneously recruited famous composers or lyricists to receive songs.
As more and more new miscellaneous songs emerged, diversification was a natural change. Since the people listening to miscellaneous songs were diverse, so were their tastes.
Thanks to this, not only singing girls but also male singers began taking the stage.
Love songs sung by women and love songs sung by men evoked different emotions, and later, several male singers who received overwhelming support from women began emerging.
As male singers were added to those singing miscellaneous songs, the title “ga-in[1]” became established to refer to those who sang miscellaneous songs.
The changes in miscellaneous songs weren’t limited to just adding gender.
Initially, solo performances by singers alone were the only option. However, as people from Europe became active as composers, miscellaneous songs using harmony in ensemble singing began appearing.
With dance added to this, miscellaneous songs became increasingly diverse and splendid.
Furthermore, as increasingly diverse people stepped forward as singers, there even emerged those who managed their schedules through contracts.
It started with gisaeng houses or families that cared for singing gisaeng. However, as time passed and professionals who specialized in this representation emerged, proper agencies appeared.
Of course, among these agencies were several front companies for the Secret Guard.
Whenever receiving reports related to this, Hyang smiled bitterly and muttered.
“Indeed, fitting for a people who are corpses without drinking, singing, and dancing.”
As an aside, comprehensive entertainment venues posted on bulletin boards who would be performing on performance days.
At this time, to attract more audiences and sell even one more related product—portraits—it was natural to write the most popular singer’s name the largest and place it at the top.
And the Entertainment Office compiled the popularity of singers and once a month created ranking charts to hang on entertainment venue advertising boards.
And whenever rankings were posted on the boards, there was quite an uproar.
“What! Hyangwol is 12th? Does that make sense!”
“Oh my! My oppas are only 7th? That’s ridiculous! Hey, Malja! You must come to the entertainment venue this time! Don’t skip!”
This was later the origin of music ranking programs.
***
As time passed and Wan succeeded Hyang as Emperor, new miscellaneous songs were no longer exclusive to the Empire.
Foreign students who came to study in the Empire, or the sons and daughters of foreign students, jumped into the new miscellaneous song world.
Foreign students mainly challenged composition and lyrics, while those among their children who had the looks challenged becoming singers.
Their appearances, different from typical Empire citizens, played a part in their popularity.
Among these foreigners, the most crucial were those from Europe.
As mentioned before, European music like harmonic music was completely different in nature from the Empire’s music, bringing a different kind of emotion.
As many foreigners came and went like this, new miscellaneous songs began flowing not only into Ming and Japan but also into Europe and the Ottoman Empire.
***