Achangje Gugak Concert Held on the 19th... Free Admission with Advance Reservation

Arko Creative Music Festival Held at Lotte Concert Hall

The Arko Korean Creative Music Festival (Achangje) Korean Traditional Music Concert, hosted by the Korea Arts & Culture Education Service and the Korean Creative Music Festival Promotion Committee, will be held on the 19th at 7:30 PM at Lotte Concert Hall.

This concert is a special performance commemorating the 15th anniversary of Achangje. It will showcase five Korean traditional music pieces selected from the 171 works presented at Achangje so far. Achangje, Korea’s representative creative orchestral festival, was launched in 2007 to stimulate public interest in newly composed works in the Korean music market, which has been dominated by Western classical music, and to support composers, conductors, and performers in freely performing creative orchestral pieces.

The Korean traditional music pieces performed at the 15th anniversary special concert include Lee Gwisuk’s "Paris 1900, There Korean Traditional Music and 2012" (selected work of the 5th Achangje), Son Dahye’s "Young Flower" for 25-string Gayageum and Korean traditional orchestra (selected work of the 13th Achangje), Jang Taepyeong’s "Neobeunsungi" (selected work of the 11th Achangje), Lee Yejin’s percussion concerto "Giu (Prayer for Rain)" (selected work of the 11th Achangje), and Lee Jeongho’s "Under the Waterfall," based on the theme of Suryongum Gyeryak (selected work of the 13th Achangje).

Lee Gwisuk’s composition "Paris 1900, There Korean Traditional Music and 2012" depicts in eight scenes the journey of traditional Korean instruments from the Joseon era that participated in the 1900 Paris Exposition Universelle, were donated to France, and returned to Korea after 112 years.

Son Dahye’s "Young Flower" for 25-string Gayageum and Korean traditional orchestra addresses the social issue of child abuse and was written to console the young souls who tragically lost their lives. Mun Yangsuk, principal member of the National Gugak Orchestra, will perform as a soloist.

Jang Taepyeong’s "Neobeunsungi" was composed based on emotions felt while visiting the Jeju 4.3 Incident sites. It carries a narrative description and serves as a requiem for the sacrificed souls.

Lee Yejin’s percussion concerto "Giu (祈雨)" expresses the sky before the rain falls, depicting the earnest longing for rain and the process leading to a shower through percussion solo performance. Kim Insu, a member of the National Gugak Orchestra, will join the performance.

Lee Jeongho’s "Under the Waterfall," based on the Suryongum Gyeryak melody, vividly and dynamically portrays the spectacle of water falling beneath a waterfall.

These five works will be performed by the National Gugak Orchestra under the direction of conductor Kim Seongguk.

The 15th Achangje Korean Traditional Music Concert can be attended by advance reservation through Naver Reservation, and admission is free. It is open to elementary school students and older.