Search - Isang Yun, Byung-Hwa Kim, Democratic People Chorus & Orchestra :: Isang Yun: My Land, My People!; Exemplum in Memoriam Kwangju

Notice: It's not a political works!

Chung-Whun Chung | Seoul, Republic of Korea | 11/15/2000

(4 out of 5 stars)

"Isang Yun was humanist and liberalist. But his motherland's cruel government was gifted bridle-communist and traitor. He was really wished motherland's reunification and Korean people's liberation to dictatorship. These works are NOT a political works. This CD's main work-Cantata 'My Country, my People!(Korean original title: Naui Dang, Naui Minjokiyo!)' was composed in 1986/87. It was premiered at Pyongyang-capital of Democratic People's Republic of Korea. This solemn work's lyrics are purely Korean-written by many Korean poets-because it was dedicated to his motherland. And its musical idiom is very easier and 'traditional' than his other works. You can hear Korean folk rhythm and melody in last movement! Other work is purely orchestral piece-Exemplum, in memoriam Kwangju. Its material is tragic and disastrous event-Kwangju Pro-democracy Civil Uprising(1980.5.18~27). So many people were killed and wounded brutally by soldiers(Survivors testified over 2000 people were slaughtered). Yun used very extreme dynamic marks-ffff, fffff and pppppp-and large orchestra include four trumpets, two timpanies and many percussions because expression of anger and lament. This recording's Performers are all Korean(in North Korea) and located in Pyongyang. Maybe you think its performance rate is low, don't worry that. The Symphony Orchestra of DPRK and Rak-Won Song and Dance Ensemble(Chorus) shows very highest ensemble ability. When the Symphony Orchestra of DPRK was performed in Warsaw's Autumn(1986), Critics of Western were very surprised because they performed nearly perfect."