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Isang Yun (1917-1995)

Isang Yun, composerKorean born Isang Yun, studied Western music in Korea (1935-37) and in Japan (1941-43). During World War II he took part in secret anti-Japanese activities that led to his imprisonment in 1943. After the war he was able to play a part in the revival of Korean culture. From 1956 to 1957 he studied in Paris and thereafter for a year at the Berlin Musikhochschule with Boris Blacher, Josef Rufer and Reinhard Schwarz-Schilling. The meetings at Darmstadt provided a formative influence. His career was dramatically interrupted when on June 17, 1967, he and his wife were brutally abducted from West Berlin by the secret police agents of South Korea, and forced to board a plane for Seoul, where they were brought to trial for sedition. He was sentenced to life imprisonment; his wife was given three years in jail. This act of lawlessness perpetrated on the territory of another country prompted an indignant protest by the government of West Germany, which threatened to cut off its substantial economic aid to South Korea; twenty-three celebrated musicians, including Igor Stravinsky, issued a vigorous letter of protest. As a result of this moral and material pressure, South Korea released Yun and his wife in 1969, after nearly two years of detention. They were  allowed to return to Germany as political refugees. Yun taught at the Hanover Musikhochschule and from 1970 at the parallel institution in Berlin. In Germany he held a position of some distinction, receiving a number of awards, while in North Korea he was honoured by the establishment of an institute bearing his name. Yun did much to encourage contemporary music in North and South Korea. His aim as a composer was to provide synthesis of East and West, developing essentially Korean ideas through Western instruments and avant-garde techniques. He developed a system of composition based on oriental heterophony, his work influenced by his political ideals and desire for Korean unification, and by elements of Korean and Chinese culture and Taoist philosophy. His many compositions include four operas, the first two based on the work of the 12th-century Yuan dynasty poet and playwright Ma Chi Yuan.
-  Naxos; and Baker's Biographical Dictionary of Musicians

COMPOSITIONS                                                            Yun  Links     ~ ~ ~     Works by Genre
String Quartet No. 1 (????)
String Quartet No. 2 (????)
Five Pieces for Piano (1958)
Music for Seven Instruments, flute, oboe, clarinet, bassoon, horn, violin and cello (1959)
Bara, small orchestra (1960)
Symphonic Scenes, orchestra (1960)
String Quartet No. 3 (1959-61)
Colloïdes sonores, string orchestra (1961)
Loyang, flute, oboe, clarinet, bassoon, harp, violin cello and 4 percussionists (1962)
Gasa, violin and piano (1963)
Garak, flute and piano (1963)
Fluktuationen, orchestra (1964)
Om mani padme hum, song cycle, soprano (or baritone), chorus and orchestra (1964)
Nore, cello and piano (1964)
Der Traum des Liu-Tung (The Dream of Liu-Tung), opera (1965)
Réak, orchestra (1966)
Shao Yan Yin, Harpsichord (1966)
Tuyaux sonores, organ (1967)
Die Witwe des Schmetterlings (Butterfly Widow), opera (1968)
Ein Schmetterlingstraum, chorus, w/percussion ad lib (1968)
Images, flute, oboe, violin and cello (1968)
Riul, clarinet and piano (1968)
Geisterliebe (Ghost Love), opera (1969-70)
    - Schamanengesänge (Shaman chants), alto & chbr orch (1969-70, unpub; arr. Koch-Raphael) [from "Geisterliebe", 1969-70]
Glissées, cello (1970)
Dimensionen, orchestra and organ solo (1971)
Konzertante Figuren, small orchestra (1971)
Piri, oboe (1971)
Namo, 3 sopranos and orchestra (1971, unpublished)
Sim Tjong, opera (1971-72)
    - Vom Tao, chorus, organ and percussion (1972/82) [from the opera "Sim Tjong", 1972]
Gagok, voice, guitar and percussion (1972)
Piano Trio, violin, cello and piano (1972–75)
Trio for Flute/Alto Flute, Oboe and Violin (1972-73) [derived from "Konzertante Figuren" for small orchestra, 1971]
Overture, orchestra (1973; rev. 1974)
Harmonia, 16 winds, harp and percussion (1974)
Etudes (5), flutes (1974) [I: flute; II: alto flute; III: piccolo; IV: bass flute; V: flute]
Memory, 3 voices, w/percussion instruments (to play by the singers) (1974, unpublished)
An der Schwelle, baritone, female chorus, organ and instrumental ensemble (1975)
Rondell, oboe, clarinet and bassoon (1975)
Fragment, organ (1975)
Cello Concerto (1975-76)
Duo for Viola and Piano (1976)
Pièce concertante, fl/alto fl, cl/bass cl, violin, viola, cello, double bass, piano and percussion (1976)
Königlisches Thema, violin (1976)
Flute Concerto, flute and small orchestra (1977)
Double Concerto for Oboe and Harp, with small orchestra (1977)
Der weise Mann, cantata, baritone, chorus and small orchestra (1977)
Salomo, alto flute (or flute) (1977-78)
Muak, dance fantasy, orchestra (1978)
Oktett (Octet), clarinet/bass clarinet, bassoon, horn, 2 violins, viola, cello and double bass (1978)
Fanfare and Memorial, orchestra and harp solo (1979)
Sonata, oboe/oboe d'amore, harp, viola (or cello) (1979)
Novellette, flute/alto fl and harp, w/violin and cello (or viola) ad lib (1980)
Teile dich Nacht, soprano and chamber ensemble (1980) [on 3 poems by Nelly Sachs]
Exemplum in memoriam Kwangju, orchestra (1981)
Violin Concerto No. 1 (1981)
Clarinet Concerto (1981)
Der Herr ist mein Hirte, chorus and trombone (1981)
O Licht..., chorus, violin and percussion (1981)
Interludium A, piano (1982)
Symphony No. 1, orchestra (1983)
Concertino, accordion and string quartet (1983)
Inventionen, 2 oboes (1983)
Sonatina, 2 violins (1983)
Monolog, bass clarinet (1983; arr. for bassoon, 1984)
Symphony No. 2, orchestra (1984)
Gong-Hu, harp and string orchestra (1984)
Clarinet Quintet No. 1, clarinet and string quartet (1984)
Duo for Cello and Harp (1984)
Inventionen, 2 flutes (1983-84)
Li-Na im Garten, 5 pieces, violin (1984-85)
Symphony No. 3, orchestra (1985)
Gagok, voice and harp (1985, unpublished)
Violin Concerto No. 2 (1983-86)
Symphony No. 4, "Im Dunkeln singen", orchestra (1986)
Impression, small orchestra (1986)
Mugung-Dong (Invocation), winds, percussion and double bass (1986)
Quintet for Flute and String Quartet (1986)
Quartet for Flutes (1986)
Rencontre, clarinet, cello and harp (or piano) (1986)
Naui Dang, Naui Minjokiyo! (My Land, My People), Korean cantata, soloist, chorus and orchestra (1986-87)
Tapis, string quintet (2 violins, viola, cello and double bass) or string orchestra (1987)
Symphony No. 5, baritone and orchestra (1987)
Chamber Symphony No. 1, 2 oboes, 2 horns and string orchestra (1987)
Duetto concertante, oboe, English horn and string orchestra (1987)
Tapis, string quintet (2 violins, viola, cello and double bass) or string orchestra (1987)
In Balance, harp (1987)
Kontraste, 2 pieces, violin (1987)
Contemplation, 2 violas (1988)
Distanzen, woodwind quintet and string quintet (1988)
Festlicher Tanz, wind quintet (1988)
Intermezzo, cello and accordion (1988)
Pezzo fantasioso, 2 instruments (flutes/oboes/clarinets/violins) in any combination, w/a bass instrument ad lib (1988)
Quartet for Flute, Violin, Cello and Piano (1988)
String Quartet No. 4 (1988)
Sori, flute (1988)
Chamber Symphony No. 2, "Den Opfern der Freiheit", orchestra (1989)
Konturen, orchestra (1989)
Rufe, oboe and harp (1989)
Together, violin and double bass (1989)
Kammerkonzert No. 1, chamber ensemble or chamber orchestra (1990)
Kammerkonzert No. 2, oboe/English horn, trombone, viola, cello, double bass, piano and percussion (1990)
Concerto for Oboe/Oboe d'amore (1990)
String Quartet No. 5 (1990)
Sonata for Violin and Piano (1991)
Wind Quintet (1991)
Silla, a legend, orchestra (1992)
Violin Concerto No. 3 (1992)
Espace I, cello and piano (1992)
Quartet for Horn, Trumpet, Trombone and Piano (1992)
String Quartet No. 6 (1992)
Trio for Clarinet, Bassoon and Horn (1992)
Espace II, cello, harp, and oboe ad lib (1993)
Chinesische Bilder, recorder (1993)
7 Etudes, cello (1993)
Clarinet Quintet No. 2, clarinet and string quartet (1994)
OstWest-Miniaturen, oboe and cello (1994)
Oboe Quartet, oboe, violin, viola and cello (1994)
Wind Octet, 2 oboes, 2 clarinets, 2 bassoons, 2 horns, and double bass ad lib (1994)
Engel in Flammen (Angels in Flames), soprano, chorus and orchestra (1994)
    - Engel in Flammen: Memento, orchestra (1994)
    - Epilog, soprano, 3-part female chorus, flute, oboe, celesta, violin and cello (1994)


WORKS BY GENRE                                                            Yun  Links     ~ top of page ~
Dramatic/Theater
Der Traum des Liu-Tung (The Dream of Liu-Tung), opera (1965)
Die Witwe des Schmetterlings (Butterfly Widow), opera (1968)
Geisterliebe (Ghost Love), opera (1969-70)
Sim Tjong, opera (1971-72)

Orchestra
Bara, small orchestra (1960)
Symphonic Scenes, orchestra (1960)
Colloïdes sonores, string orchestra (1961)
Fluktuationen, orchestra (1964)
Réak, orchestra (1966)
Dimensionen, orchestra and organ solo (1971)
Konzertante Figuren, small orchestra (1971)
Overture, orchestra (1973; rev. 1974)
Harmonia, 16 winds, harp and percussion (1974)
Muak, dance fantasy, orchestra (1978)
Fanfare and Memorial, orchestra and harp solo (1979)
Exemplum in memoriam Kwangju, orchestra (1981)
Symphony No. 1, orchestra (1983)
Symphony No. 2, orchestra (1984)
Symphony No. 3, orchestra (1985)
Symphony No. 4, "Im Dunkeln singen", orchestra (1986)
Impression, small orchestra (1986)
Mugung-Dong (Invocation), winds, percussion and double bass (1986)
Symphony No. 5, baritone and orchestra (1987)
Chamber Symphony No. 1, 2 oboes, 2 horns and string orchestra (1987)
Tapis, string quintet (2 violins, viola, cello and double bass) or string orchestra (1987)
Chamber Symphony No. 2, "Den Opfern der Freiheit", orchestra (1989)
Konturen, orchestra (1989)
Kammerkonzert No. 1, chamber ensemble or chamber orchestra (1990)
Kammerkonzert No. 2, oboe/English horn, trombone, viola, cello, double bass, piano and percussion (1990)
Silla, a legend, orchestra (1992)
Engel in Flammen: Memento, orchestra (1994)

Soloist(s) w/Orchestra
Dimensionen, orchestra and organ solo (1971)
Cello Concerto (1975-76)
Flute Concerto, flute and small orchestra (1977)
Double Concerto for Oboe and Harp, with small orchestra (1977)
Fanfare and Memorial, orchestra and harp solo (1979)
Violin Concerto No. 1 (1981)
Clarinet Concerto (1981)
Concertino, accordion and string quartet (1983)
Gong-Hu, harp and string orchestra (1984)
Violin Concerto No. 2 (1983-86)
Duetto concertante, oboe, English horn and string orchestra (1987)
Concerto for Oboe/Oboe d'amore (1990)
Violin Concerto No. 3 (1992)

Chorus w/Orchestra
Om mani padme hum, song cycle, soprano (or baritone), chorus and orchestra (1964)
Der weise Mann, cantata, baritone, chorus and small orchestra  (1977)
Naui Dang, Naui Minjokiyo! (My Land, My People), Korean cantata, soloist, chorus and orchestra (1986-87)
Engel in Flammen (Angels in Flames), soprano, chorus and orchestra (1994)

Choral
Ein Schmetterlingstraum, chorus, w/percussion ad lib (1968)
Vom Tao, chorus, organ and percussion (1972/82) [from the opera "Sim Tjong", 1972]
An der Schwelle, baritone, female chorus, organ and instrumental ensemble (1975)
Der Herr ist mein Hirte, chorus and trombone (1981)
O Licht..., chorus, violin and percussion (1981)

Chamber
String Quartet No. 1 (????)
String Quartet No. 2 (????)
Music for Seven Instruments, flute, oboe, clarinet, bassoon, horn, violin and cello (1959)
String Quartet No. 3 (1959-61)
Loyang, flute, oboe, clarinet, bassoon, harp, violin cello and 4 percussionists (1962)
Gasa, violin and piano (1963)
Garak, flute and piano (1963)
Nore, cello and piano (1964)
Images, flute, oboe, violin and cello (1968)
Riul, clarinet and piano (1968)
Piano Trio, violin, cello and piano (1972–75)
Trio for Flute/Alto Flute, Oboe and Violin (1972-73) [derived from "Konzertante Figuren" for small orchestra, 1971]
Rondell, oboe, clarinet and bassoon (1975)
Duo for Viola and Piano (1976)
Pièce concertante, fl/alto fl, cl/bass cl, violin, viola, cello, double bass, piano and percussion (1976)
Oktett (Octet), clarinet/bass clarinet, bassoon, horn, 2 violins, viola, cello and double bass (1978)
Sonata, oboe/oboe d'amore, harp, viola (or cello) (1979)
Novellette, flute/alto fl and harp, w/violin and cello (or viola) ad lib (1980)
Concertino, accordion and string quartet (1983)
Inventionen, 2 oboes (1983)
Sonatina, 2 violins (1983)
Clarinet Quintet No. 1, clarinet and string quartet (1984)
Duo for Cello and Harp (1984)
Inventionen, 2 flutes (1983-84)
Quintet for Flute and String Quartet (1986)
Quartet for Flutes (1986)
Rencontre, clarinet, cello and harp (or piano) (1986)
Tapis, string quintet (2 violins, viola, cello and double bass) or string orchestra (1987)
Contemplation, 2 violas (1988)
Distanzen, woodwind quintet and string quintet (1988)
Festlicher Tanz, wind quintet (1988)
Intermezzo, cello and accordion (1988)
Pezzo fantasioso, 2 instruments (flutes/oboes/clarinets/violins) in any combination, w/a bass instrument ad lib (1988)
Quartet for Flute, Violin, Cello and Piano (1988)
String Quartet No. 4 (1988)
Rufe, oboe and harp (1989)
Together, violin and double bass (1989)
Kammerkonzert No. 1, chamber ensemble or chamber orchestra (1990)
Kammerkonzert No. 2, oboe/English horn, trombone, viola, cello, double bass, piano and percussion (1990)
String Quartet No. 5 (1990)
Sonata for Violin and Piano (1991)
Wind Quintet (1991)
Espace I, cello and piano (1992)
Quartet for Horn, Trumpet, Trombone and Piano (1992)
String Quartet No. 6 (1992)
Trio for Clarinet, Bassoon and Horn (1992)
Espace II, cello, harp, and oboe ad lib (1993)
Clarinet Quintet No. 2, clarinet and string quartet (1994)
OstWest-Miniaturen, oboe and cello (1994)
Oboe Quartet, oboe, violin, viola and cello (1994)
Wind Octet, 2 oboes, 2 clarinets, 2 bassoons, 2 horns, and double bass ad lib (1994)

Solo Instrument
Glissées, cello (1970)
Piri, oboe (1971)
Etudes (5), flutes (1974) [I: flute; II: alto flute; III: piccolo; IV: bass flute; V: flute]
Königlisches Thema, violin (1976)
Salomo, alto flute (or flute) (1977-78)
Monolog, bass clarinet (1983; arr. for bassoon, 1984)
Li-Na im Garten, 5 pieces, violin (1984-85)
In Balance, harp (1987)
Kontraste, 2 pieces, violin (1987)
Sori, flute (1988)
Chinesische Bilder, recorder (1993)
7 Etudes, cello (1993)

Piano/Harpsichord/Organ
Five Pieces for Piano (1958)
Shao Yan Yin, Harpsichord (1966)
Tuyaux sonores, organ (1967)
Fragment, organ (1975)
Interludium A, piano (1982)

Vocal
Om mani padme hum, song cycle, soprano (or baritone), chorus and orchestra (1964)
Schamanengesänge (Shaman chants), alto & chbr orch (1969-70, unpub; arr. Koch-Raphael) [from opera "Geisterliebe", 1969-70]
Namo, 3 sopranos and orchestra (1971, unpublished)
Gagok, voice, guitar and percussion (1972)
Memory, 3 voices, w/percussion instruments (to play by the singers) (1974, unpublished)
Der weise Mann, cantata, baritone, chorus and small orchestra  (1977)
Teile dich Nacht, soprano and chamber ensemble  (1980) [on 3 poems by Nelly Sachs]
Gagok, voice and harp (1985, unpublished)
Engel in Flammen (Angels in Flames), soprano, chorus and orchestra (1994)
Epilog, soprano, 3-part female chorus, flute, oboe, celesta, violin and cello (1994) [from "Engel in Flammen", 1994]


YUN  LINKS                                                            Works by Genre      ~ top of page ~
A Combination of Asian Language with Foundations of Western Music (Dae-Sik Hur)
Composer Isang Yun - A Conversation with Bruce Duffie (bruceduffie.com)
European Techniques, Korean Sources and Character (Walter-Wolfgang Sparrer, gotomidori.com)
Isang Yun, 78, Korean-Born Composer Pursued by His Homeland - Obiturary (Allan Kozinn, The New York Times)
Isang Yun and His Selected Cello Works (J. Y. Ko)
Isang Yun’s Discordant Harmony Fills Tongyeong (Lee Hyo-won, The Korea Times)
Isang Yun's Duo for Viola & Piano: A Synthesis of Eastern Music Concepts with Western Music Techinques (Junghyun Kim)
Isang Yun’s Widow Visits Homeland After 40 Years (Lee Hyo-won, The Korea Times)
A Korean-German Composer Gains Belated Recognition in His Homeland (Korea is One.com)
Music Competition to Commemorate Isang Yun (Korea Herald)
A Performer's Analysis of Isang Yun's Monolog for Bassoon (L. Hauser)

Composer website

Yun @ Wikipedia
Yun @ Wikipedia.de (in German)
Yun @ Afontibus
Yun @ Answers.com
Yun @ Boosey & Hawkes
Yun @ Chicago Bulletin
Yun @ Center for the Humanities, National Sun Yat-sen University
Yun @ Classical Archives
Yun @ Classical Composers Database
Yun @ Classical Net
Yun @ ClassicsToday (via google)
Yun @ composition:today
Yun @ Da Jeong Choi
Yun @ Dilettante Music
Yun @ furious artisans
Yun @ gotomidori.com
Yun @ InstantEncore
Yun @ Karadar Classical Music
Yun @ Kunstbus (in Dutch)     in English  here (translated by google)
Yun @ Locating East Asia in Western Art Music (Yayoi Uno Everett, Frederick Lau, books.google.com)
Yun @ MusicWeb International
Yun @ Naxos
Yun @ NME
Yun @ The New York Times
Yun @ TYmusic

Streaming Audio
Yun @ Classical Archives
Yun @ last.fm
Yun @ Rhapsody

Recordings
Yun @ ArkivMusic
Yun @ ClassicsOnline
Yun @ ECM

Video
Yun @ YouTube
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