Performed by Ensemble KCL & Musikgruppe NABIYA
Conducted by Sungjin Kim

Program Note: This piece originated from a series of questions I asked myself while observing the roads and puddles of rainwater I often passed without much thought. Looking at the road ahead, I wondered, "How many people have walked this path?" Seeing the rain soak into the ground, I questioned, "How many lives were sacrificed to protect this land?" These reflections deepened, leading me to the conclusion that this land must hold the memories of those sacrifices without distortion. I wanted to capture this message through music.

At the time of composing, I was exploring ways to blend the sounds of traditional Korean instruments with Western instruments. To express the grief, sorrow, and anguish left by death, I chose the mournful resonance of the cheong sound and breath in the Daegeum and the sobbing-like tone of the Ajaeng as primary elements. Additionally, the poem, called “Crying for My Son’s Death” By Heo Nanseolheon, that inspired this piece profoundly portrayed the emotions of a mother grieving her lost child, helping shape the overall tone and mood of the composition.

The piece conveys sorrow through ornamental notes, echoing the characteristics of traditional Korean music. It uses tutti sections of instruments with similar timbres to build emotional intensity, while sudden human voices represent unexpected tragedy. These elements work together to embody the themes of sacrifice, memory, and profound sadness. Through this piece, I sought to honor those sacrifices and offer a musical reflection on remembrance and loss.