Isang Yun: Complete Works for Violin Solo and With Piano

Featuring

Yezu Woo
Tomoki Park
Isang Yun

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Composer Biography

Isang Yun, the composer, was arrested and tortured twice by Japanese occupation forces and later by the South Korean secret police for his political involvement.

Performer Biography

Yezu Woo, the violinist, made her Carnegie Hall debut at 16, becoming the youngest performer to play all 24 of Niccolò Paganini's Caprices for solo violin.

Cultural Impact

Yezu Woo has performed in Pyongyang, North Korea, and at the Korean Demilitarized Zone (DMZ) 'ART FESTA', contributing to the ongoing peace process between the two Koreas.

Composition History

The Königliches Thema (Royal Theme) for violin was a commissioned work for a concert themed around J.S. Bach's 'Musical Offering' and contemporary aspects.

Composer's Artistic Vision

Yun's music uniquely bridges Western and Eastern sounds, influenced by Taoism and Chinese and Korean court music, resulting in a style unlike any other.

Interpretation

Yezu Woo's interpretation of Yun's works is based on discussions with musicians, her experience with traditional Korean instruments, and studying the composer's manuscripts.

Compositional Technique

Isang Yun's composition Kontraste (Contrasts) for violin, despite its title, was written by a composer who previously stated that absolute contrasts did not exist in his East Asian-inspired works.