Korean dance suite for piano by Young Jo Lee : an analysis

摘要

Even though Western music appeared only about one hundred years ago inKorea, it was rapidly popularized in the country. Since the Korean War (1950-1953),South Korea embarked on a path of remarkable economic growth and political stability.The appreciation of Western music, too, grew quickly. Since the 1960s, many talentedKorean composers have been recognized around the world. However, scholarly studiesdiscussing their artistry and music are scarce in Western countries.Young Jo Lee, one of the leading composers in Korea today, has a growingreputation. Lee has been invited to many festivals, concerts, and conferences where hisworks have been staged internationally. A primary compositional feature of his music isthe combination of Korean traditional musical gestures with Western compositionalelements.The Korean Dance Suite, one of Young Jo Lee’s most important piano works,reveals Lee’s uniqueness as a national Korean composer. The study examines theKorean Dance Suite (“Heaven Dance,” “Children’s Dance,” “Lovers Dance,” “BuddhistDance,” and “Peasant Dance”) for the features of Young Jo Lee’s innovative anddramatic sound elements. The purpose of this study is to analyze the pieces and to traceLee’s borrowings from Korean traditional music as well as the ways in which he adaptsthem to Western musical ideas.This study helps performers create an accurate interpretation when presentingthese pieces. In addition, these little-known works will benefit teachers and students increating an expanded repertoire.