
Sebastian Claren: Gagokbounce: One By One
Did you know?
1/7Composer's Artistic Vision
Claren chose to use a Korean translation of a text by Korean-American writer Theresa Hak Kyung Cha for "Gagokbounce" because he believes the sound of Gagok is intrinsically linked to the sound of the Korean language.
Historical Context
Gagok, the traditional Korean vocal art form, is the instrumentally accompanied song art of the upper middle class in ancient Korea.
Interpretation
The album's transcription of Gagok music is considered a "portrait" of how Minhee Park and the ensemble interpret Gagok, rather than a neutral description.
Compositional Technique
The compositional techniques used in "Gagokbounce" are primarily cut, montage, and repetition, sometimes abandoning original synchronicity to emphasize individual parts.
Performer Biography
Minhee Park, the Gagok singer on this album, is a performance artist who explores new experimental approaches to traditional Korean music, questioning its meaning and function in contemporary society.
Composer's Artistic Vision
Claren's compositional strategy for "Gagokbounce" was to include performance details usually omitted in conventional notation, aiming to change the music by getting as close to it as possible.
Composition History
Composer Sebastian Claren's "Gagokbounce: One By One" is based entirely on traditional Gagok music, a Korean vocal genre, after he was struck by its expressive power at a 2012 festival.



















