Not long ago, the West developed an overwhelming love for all things Korean: cuisine, romance dramas, pop groups. Much less notorious is the emerging Korean scene of classical music composers. Internationally-acclaimed pianist Eun-Hee Park aims to shed light on its abundance with her new release, KOREAN SOUNDSCAPES.

The album presents a veritable cross-section of Korea’s living composers, but also of Korean culture at large, particularly its balancing act between established tradition and hyper-advanced modernity. Vignettes of urban life intermingle with folk songs, Western compositional techniques with age-old Korean melodies, and traditional dances with barely tonal meditations. A fascinating peek behind the cultural curtain, enlivened further by Park’s immaculate pianism.

Track List:

• Jean Ahn: Folksong Revisited for solo piano
  • I. Nil-lili
  • II. Song of Mongeumpo
  • III. Ongheya
• Hyukjin Shin: Urban Clichés for Solo Piano
  • I. Graffiti
  • II. Monroe Wind
  • III. Long Drive
  • IV. Summer in the City
  • V. Skyscrapers
• Heeyoung Yang: Milyang (2008) for solo piano
• Kay Rhie: III. Arirang from Three Miniatures for Solo Piano (2003, rev. 2024)
• Kyong Mee Choi: Breathe Life II (Arirang Variation)
• SiHyun Uhm: Broken Waltz
• SiHyun Uhm: Piano Suite Circus for piano
  • I. Monkey
  • II. Clown
  • III. Trapeze
  • IV. Lion
• Texu Kim: Co.Ko. – un poco Loco for solo piano
  • I. Sangietto
  • II. Emperor of Ballads
  • III. Jingle Up!!
• Sin Young Park: Ari 2019