Title of Piece: Variations on a Korean Folk Song
Performer(s): Auckland Symphony Orchestra
Culture of Origin: Korea
Instrumentation: Winds, Brass, Strings and Percussion
One of my favorite instrumental pieces is "Variations on a Korean Folk Song." Based on the simple pentatonic melody of "Ahrirang" and bringing in multiple variations of the melody throughout the piece, I believe that this piece highlights many of the points that Campbell discussed in this week's reading. Campbell (2004) discusses the importance and significant of recreation in the reading and that it is not the only worthy goal. I think that this is a very valid point that is made in the text and is important when thinking about and teaching world music to our students. Taking the original melody of "Ahrirang" and then creating multiple variations taps into the text about using music as a starting point for creative endeavors and exploration. John Barnes Chance took the original pentatonic melody of the simple Korean folk song and then wrote five variations on that theme. Campbell (2004) provided examples which included creating a song in the structure of another (i.e. call-and-response), extending musical selections, or adapting different musical elements. Developing a piece with a theme and variation takes a good amount of creativity and focus. I believe that re-creating is important in the realm of world music and plays a vital role in the use of this genre of music in schools today.
Campbell, P. A. (2004). Teaching music globally: Experiencing music, expressing culture. New York, New York: Oxford University Press, Inc.
I am an orchestra player (cellist) and so I was instantly drawn to the sound of this piece. I like all of the contrasts within this piece from the flowery, light beginning to the more percussive sounds starting at about one minute and 30 seconds. It is pretty amazing that the composer could create this elaborate arrangement from a simple pentatonic melody. This kind of recreation of music is valuable because you maintain the familiar as a foundation but them express your own musical style/creativity in making it your own. Great choice!
ReplyDeleteI too am an orchestra player (violinist). The piece you chose was absolutely lovely. The fact that such a small musical idea could create such a varied and intricate piece is amazing. It really does follow along with the idea of recreating/creating music from another culture like it was discussed in Campbell this week. Like you said, it took a theme from Korean culture and applied the different techniques suggested like extending the melody, adding call and response sections, and adding different elements to make the new themes. Thank you for sharing your selection and your thoughts!
ReplyDeleteSarah, I wrote about this piece in Module 4 as well. I am a vocalist and learned this song on Election day at a professional development. We had chorus perform it, an orchestra and a guitar ensemble. It was amazing. We also were able to create our own arrangements in groups. It was quite the experience. I have been obsessed with this song ever since. My husband is a band player and he knew it right away. I think instrumentalists know it more than vocalists. Thank you for sharing this arrangement of the piece.
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