Danso
Unknown Artist
19th century
Medium
Bamboo
Dimensions
L. 44.4 cm (17-7/16 in.); Diam. 1.7 cm (11/16 in.); Diam. of bore: 1.1 cm (7/16 in.)
Classification
Aerophone-Blow Hole-end-blown flute (vertical)
Culture
Korean
Department
Musical Instruments
Museum
Metropolitan Museum of Art, New York, NY
Credit
The Crosby Brown Collection of Musical Instruments, 1889
Accession Number
89.4.144
Art Historical Context
Nestled in the Metropolitan Museum of Art's Crosby Brown Collection of Musical Instruments this 19th-centuryDanso* exemplifies the elegant simplicity of Korean aerophones. Crafted from bamboo—a material revered in East Asian cultures for its lightweight strength and natural resonance—this end-blown flute measures 44.4 cm in length with a slender diameter of just 1.7 cm and a bore of 1.1 cm. Played vertically by blowing directly into the top hole, the *Danso* produces a, haunting tone through its five finger holes, making it accessible yet expressive. In Korean culture, the *Danso* holds a che...