600 Years Reimagined: Reviving Sejong the Great’s 용비어천가 (Yongbieocheonga) through Generative AI and Modern-Classical Vocal Interpretation

초록

This chapter presents an interdisciplinary collaboration that combines artificial intelligence (AI) research with artistic performance to reimagine 15th-century Korean court music for contemporary audiences. It focuses on Chihwapyeong (치화평) and Chwipunghyeong (취풍형)—two of three compositions, alongside Yeominrak (여민락), attributed to Sejong the Great—and originally set to verses from Yongbieocheonga (용비어천가, Songs of the Dragons Flying to Heaven). Whereas Yeominrak has remained part of the living performance tradition, Chihwapyeong and Chwipunghyeong survive only in Jeongganbo (정간보), one of the earliest Korean musical notation systems, which preserves rhythmic patterns, lyrics, and the tonal framework. These three works were originally part of Bonglaeeui (봉래의), a grand court performance integrating dance, singing, and instrumental music that reflected Sejong the Great’s vision of a harmonious ruler and people, stability of governance, and cultural flourishing. Recent efforts have sought to revive Chihwapyeong and Chwipunghyeong in diverse styles, aiming to restore aspects of their lost tradition. This study addresses that loss by employing AI technologies to reconstruct ensemble versions of Chihwapyeong and Chwipunghyeong and reintroduce them in performance. The project integrates computational reconstruction with artistic interpretation, adapting the original texts into modern Korean and arranging them for soprano voice in the style of Western art song. The newly retranslated verses, together with AI-generated ensemble scores refined for performance, were set for classical voice using techniques such as phrasing, dynamic control, and timbral shading, while preserving the rhythmic and tonal aesthetics of Korean court music. In doing so, the project reintroduces a vocal dimension by presenting verses from the Yongbieocheonga in two contrasting settings: the serene pacing of Chwipunghyeong and the festive rhythms of Chihwapyeong. The resulting hybrid presentation—combining live soprano performance with AI-generated ensemble recordings by the Court Music Orchestra of the National Gugak Center—creates a multidimensional revival bridging historical reconstruction with contemporary artistic interpretation. By uniting computational musicology, traditional Korean music theory, and classical vocal artistry—and, reflecting Sejong’s foundational philosophy of Aemin Sasang (애민사상, “loving and caring for one’s nation and people”)—this project demonstrates how AI can serve as a tool for cultural preservation and creative reimagination, ensuring the continued relevance of intangible heritage for future generations. © 2026 selection and editorial matter, Seok Kang, Wookjae Heo, Woo Hyoung Lee, Jangwoon Lee and Young B. Choi; individual chapters, the contributors.