Czech Philharmonic Orchestra - Most successful classical philharmonic orchestra

Czech Philharmonic Orchestra - Most successful classical philharmonic orchestra


In Classical Billboard Chart, among the album of philharmonic orchestra made, Czech Philharmonic Orchestra is top-ranked. The secret was, they are not stuck in the self-esteem. They made christmas album for communication with ordinary people, and it seems to success. They are selling their album very much.

Moreover, Czech Philharmonic Orchestra tries to make crossover music! This movie is about Arirang, Korean traditional song. With great orchestra sound, they emphasizes magnificent feeling in this performance. Like I said before, classical music don't need to compromise with other music, but evolution is required at some point.

There is an old saying, "A rolling stone gathers no moss".
In classical music history, there were many trends. But they didn't stay in some point and some conception. It is time to develop a new kind of classical music, like as "Contemporary Classical Music".
That was just my suggestion!

*Closing all the bloggings...

It is very important to have their own explanation. I've learned and read many books, classical music scores, theories and classical music history until now. But at some point, I tried to have my own feeling and explanation. If you have your own point, just keep going. If you are wrong, just accept that. Now you learned one more.
This is my first and final request. Please don't just accept the other's opinion about music. You can think about Why? What is enable to do that?
If you are keeping this attitude, you will have your good explanation someday.

Someday I will go to music school. I will try to this, too. If you are interested in this blog, you and I become friend now. Let's meet someday!

What is the Good music?

Classical music is the most excellent genre in history and there is no argument about that. But, it is not popular to younger generation these days. As I anticipate, after 50 years, the classical music will be a antique even if that is worthy once upon a time. Young people don't like to spend money to buy a ochestra or opera ticket nowadays. Even they don't like spend any money to buy a music. If so, how can we keep the value of classical music as a current, active art?

A great player in classical music never made in a day. It takes much more time to play a classical music. However, hook song can be made with no speciallity because that song is comprised with some melody line and with little kind of musical instrument.

So, accesibility is the main point, in my opinion. All kind of technology tries to simplifying. Music is not an exception. If so, do the classical music have to compromise to popularity? I think not. But for continue the value of classical music, we need to change the perception regarding classical music is the best.

Psy's Gangnam style hits 1,846,501,859 until now. How about the hits of classical music?


I have many friend who is major in classical music such as piano, composing, violin and etc. But the problem is, they regard the classical music is absolutely best, so they don't like listen to the other genres such as Jazz and Blues. They told me Classical music professor teaches them usually.In some part, that is true. It takes huge amount of time and it is not accessible to reach some point without special music talent. But this trend and perception makes classical music as "their's"


Who will buy the ticket? Who will buy the recordings?
My older sister majored in Jazz Piano in top-ranked university in Korea, and she practices classical music. She doesn't think Jazz is the only best music but her play skill is excellent. Openness is the key.

Kun-Woo Paik Beethoven Piano Sonata No.17 3mov

Kun-Woo Paik Beethoven Piano Sonata No.17 3. movement

Recently, I introduced about Crossover music. There was a specific reason.

Have you heard of Absolute music before?
If so, you are interested in classical music very much.
Absolute music is a kind of music that was a main stream in 18th century. We can say about 18th music with three people - Mozart, Haydn and Beethoven.

Those three great composers had a concept about music should be performed in distinctive way. Moderation and temperation is really important matter in this concept.
There's no one who can darely say Mozart, Haydn and Beethoven was not much a good artist. But this Absolute music concept is not regarded as a fundamental concept.
Critics of music judges music as a relative one. Some music can be estimated to some critics as a best thing but not to everyone.

I like classical music is the best, but I don't like Hip-hop. Even I don't want to call Hip-hop as a music. But Hip-hop can be the best genre of music to somebody.

But I want to say that when a music reaches a peak point(the highest level), it is no doubt to say that some music performed absolutely perfect.

So, I want to recommend today, Kun-Woo Paik Beethoven Piano Sonata No.17 3mov because many critics compliments this performance as "absolutely great".

Crossover music

I will talk about Crossover music in this post.
I like classical music very much because classical music is like ground where we can build up the buildings. These days, many kind of music have been occured such as Jazz, Rock, Blues, Electronica, Pops, Metals and etc. Have you wondered about the origin of music at least once in your life?

The true value of classical music is in "record". There have been numerous kind of music in history, but most of them don't have any material. But in case of classical music, there is a score, written material about what is music and definition. Because of those firm, solid basis, we could listen to various kind of music.

Individual genre of music has a clear definition. So, we can devide or decide that is certain kind of music when we are listening music. We can't judge definitely when the music is very similar genre in some cases, such as Acid Jazz and Blues.

But we can devide which is Rock and Jazz.

Among them, I want to deal with Crossover music today.

According to Wikipedia, Crossover is a term applied to musical works or performers appearing on two or more of the record charts which track differing musical tastes, or genres.[1] If the second chart combines genres, such as a "Hot 100" list, the work is not acrossover.

The clear definition is, Crossover music is a genre of mixture more than two kind of music. Why is so important?

Just think about the Jazz. Usually, when we think about Jazz, it is not so energetic and powerful. Normal perception could be a medium tempo but sometimes fast, and somewhat boring. But in case of Crossover Jazz, this is different.

I want to recommend Casiopea's "Domino line" today.

I wish you can feel the difference and love this crossover music.

And my comment is, the motive of classical music is used in this crossover music!

If you can find any classical motives, please make a comment!

Yeol Eum Son - Rising Korean Classical music artist.

This time, I want to introduce a musician - Yeol Eum Son -The most hot, rising Korean Classical music artist. She is 28 years old, and her awards include the Silver Medal at the 13th International Van Cliburn Piano Competition, in which she also received the Steven De Groote Memorial Award for the Best Performance of Chamber Music. In addition, she got the Silver medal in International Tchaikovsky Competition in 2011. I think this career is the most notable achievement.

This is the movie when she got the silver medal in International Tchaikovsky Competition. She have clear note tone and this advantage is seeing well in the fastest part in the music. From the 180 tempo, her advantage is maximized.

I saw her performance first in the Suwon philharmonic ochestra's regular performance in 2012. She played with Suwon philharmonic at that time, so I could see her in Korea.
She is living in Germany mainly, so it is not easy to see her in korea even if she is Korean.

With the great Maestro Myung Whun Chung, she played Bartok Piano Concerto No3. I want to praise of her ensemble skill. With Maestro Chung and Korea's best ochestra, Seoul philharmonic, she did not make any mistake at this moment. I want to point out the classical pianist's weak point, suitable to play solo, but Yeol Eum is good at Ensemble as well.

Finally I want to recommend Chopin piano concerto No.2 F minor. She expressed stream of emotion unbelievably at this performance. Have fun with Yeol Eum!^^

About Juilliard School

Juilliard School, the most valuable classic school to the Korean. I want to introduce today regarding Juilliard School.

If you can get admission to join this school, your future is all prepared regardless of you are undergraduate or quit the school. I was the one who really thought about for entering that school(but I didn't try yet).

In the US, that school is always top 10-ranked classic school, but not always the highest ranked. But for the Korean, this school is regarded as a best classic school because the greates conductor, Maestro Myung-Whun Chung graduate this school. Furthermore, his two old sisters Myung-Wha and Kyung-Wha graduate this school, too.

According to some interviews, students of this school practice more than 10 hours in a day. And they are called all genius. Talent don't tell the success, but what if talented people practices a lot?

This school is located in Manhattan in New York City, so the tuition and living cost is so expensive. If you are talented and rich person, it's not bad to try to get admission of this school. For the unrich people, Germany is good to consider. Tuitions free!

I want to enter Juilliard school after I become a flight attendant and get some money. See you in Juilliard, later!

For more information, please visit www.juilliard.edu

The Goldberg Variations with Jeremy Denk: Variation No. 18 & 25

Did you know there is a Billboard chart for Classical music?
If you visit the webpage of billboard, www.billboard.com, there is a section of Additional Genres among the Genre section. Today, I want to share about J.S.Bach's music which is ranked as 25th. these days.

*25th classical music is J.S.Bach's The Goldberg Variations with Jeremy Denk

Among the Goldberg Variations, today, I will cover theVariation No. 18&25.

Jeremy Denk performed this Bach's music in this album, he is well known as a reached person who is perfectly understand the Bach's music. This fame makes his album as 25th ranked.

In this youtube video, he explained some criteria about how to play, when to emphasize and what to do.
Additionally, he is telling about the base note of Bach made, as perfectly gorgeous base working(played by left hand).

With his marvelous explanation and expression, I was so moved and almost full of tear when I listening his play. There is an entire album besides, but I want to share this video for educational purpose.

Sometimes I playing the piano in my room. Usually I take mozart's, Beethoven's because I like their music so much. Even if  J.S Bach is former player, composer, sometimes I feel that Bach's music is more precise, clear. The most interesting thing is Mozart's and Beethoven's music is called by Absolute music because of their clarity and precisition. So, we can find the relativeness of music in this aspect again, and Jeremy Denk is good at this point a great amount.

I wish this post would be helpful when you are listening and playing of J.S.Bach.

Upcoming Opera - La Traviata

Did you know this year is 200 anniversary of Verdi?

For tributing that, "Grand Opera" will hold his famous opera, La Traviata at Seoul Art Center.
La Traviata means 'improper women'. So the story is about a prostitute's complicated life.
For more information about the plot, please visit http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/La_traviata

Even if this opera is made by Korean group, Marco Balderi will conduct this opera.
Furthermore, Seung-ah Shin will take Prima donna, she graduate Accademia Nazionale Santa Cecilia. And she have many career as a Prima donna at Marcerata, Ostra and Paganini hall.So I expect the quality of this opera will be marvelous!
First time I saw this opera by internet media, I totally impressed about the interesting, sensational plot and the way of acting. In classical music history, La Traviata is almost top ranked fabulous opera.
Compare with Madam Butterfly made by Puccini, this opera is more enthusiastic, powerful and exciting. This chance can take away of your stresses at a time!

If you want to book, please visit www.grandopera.or.kr or call 02)2238-1102.
Schedule of this opera is Dec.12 to 13(Thurs. to Fri.) at 7:30PM.
R seats for 180,000 , S for 120,000, A for 80,000, B for 50,000, C for 30,000.

Sumi Jo - Mozart - Die Zauberflote - Der Holle Rache Kocht

Sumi Jo - Mozart - Die Zauberflote - Der Holle Rache Kocht

This time, I want to observe opera firstly. This opera, Die Zauberflote(in English, The magic flute) is made by Mozart. Among the diverse version, I select the Sumi Jo's. Many critics said her speciallity and that is not comparable in this century. She can only be competed with the great prima donna in history. She sings with very high pitch(that is Octave 4, F) and this pitch can be sung properly only 3~4 person in the world. In addition, she can sing very fast at a high pitch very correctly.This skill is very rare as well.

The reason I want to introduce the opera is -

1.Opera is the fist genre of singing and ochestrationing simultaneously.

2.Ochestration is sub, and the singing is the main.

3. Ochestra is invisible to the audience, and the main singer can be seen well.

This dramatic genre change is contributed in music history. It enlarges the music genre, and diverse the spectrum and add the popularity - originally the music is exclusive property of upper class.

As you can see, it can be played with music and vice versa. This situation emphasizes the dramatic effect of music. On the contrary, the part of ochestration gets small.

Diversity of music genre enable to diverse interpretation. This moment in this play, the Queen of night is about to threat the opposite side. But sometimes it can be played in the restaurant. Without any special attention, the listener can regard this story as a interesting, exciting moment rather than threatening story.

Question : Can we understand even if the opera is sung by foreign language by atmosphere of this song?

Maksim Mrvica playing Franz Liszt's Hungarian Rhapsody No. 2

Maksim Mrvica playing Franz Liszt's Hungarian Rhapsody No. 2

Who can define music as a perfect word? I think nobody can do it correctly. Music is not a absolute one but a relative one. Same music, same song, same player can be delivered as a different way. I like this aspect of the music the most. So, I like most kind of music because they have their own story, point of view and interpretation. For this reason, I like especially cross-over music which is mixed with more than two different genre of music. There are lots of musician famous for cross-over musician these days, but I like the most is Maksim Mrvica as a pianist. His interpretation is full of openness. This time, I want to introduce Maksim Mrvica's Listz.


Franz Listz is a pianist in 19C, well known by his Impromptu music. But I want to introduce Hungarian Rhapsody first.

The background of Hungarian rhapsody is full of sorrow. Hungary has a sad history at that moment when the song is made. And like the title, rhapsody means full of passion, wild emotion. Those Hungarian rhapsody usually include their sadness, passion and freedom in a fast tempo.

Unlike the original version, Maksim Mrvica intend the mildness,lyrical feeling in this rhapsody. So, sometimes it shows optimistic feeling and bright image. He handle tempo through the song freely sometimes expand longer and shorter. His touching is very light. Fast and light is in this song. Thinness is well expressed in this play.

Daily suggestion : Listen to his other song "Croatian rhapsody" and compare the difference between them.

Yundi Li - Beethoven - Pathetique Sonata - 2nd Movement

Yundi Li - Beethoven - Pathetique Sonata - 2nd Movement

Few days ago, I posted Beethoven's Pathetique Sonata - 3rd Movement played by Soonhwon Kwon.

So, I want to contrast the same composer's song with two different player.

A song can be interpreted in different ways by player's intention, as I mentioned before, this contrast of Beethoven's song will be shown apparently.

Yundi Li is Chinese pianist most famous for his best play recently.

His note flowing is very sensitive even if he is a male player. His note touching and flowing is more emotional than women's have. He exaggerates the original tempo as following his emotional stream. However, Soonhwon Kwon's style is close to original classics. Playing regularly and rhythmically. Soonhwon keeps original score very tightly. But Yundi Li is more flexible than Soonhwon. This difference is well indicated in the Beethoven's song. Like this song, 2nd Movement, the 3rd movement can be played as a extreme sentimental song. Yundi Li expressed like that. But Soonhwon express the coldness rather than softness.

My entire feeling when I listen this song first is strolling in the deep forest with birds toward a lake where the deer and rabbit lives at late afternoon. Sun is falling down, temperature is going down. Peaceful moment is going away. I just feel like get to go back home immediately. The reason why I felt this emotion is... A part is peaceful, tempo is not too fast, but A' part is faster than A part and the low notes keep playing during the changes into C part. 

At last, c part has an evidence of going back to everyone's home just like an ending credit in movie.

I can feel the Soonhwon's play as a strong temperance, and Yundi's play as a free of expression.

Today's suggestion : Determine some feeling as a word.

Vladimir Horowitz plays Chopin's "Raindrop" Prelude in D flat Major

It's raining outside. So, today, I want to recommend a song of Frederic Chopin's Raindrop prelude.

This song is famous for program music - the title of song means and includes about topic of that song.

That is to say, when the listener closes their eyes and just listens this song, they can feel the emotion of raining and picture of raining image. The rain is at first raining slightly and softly, but when the song is going into the B part, that rain gets more strong and heavy. As following that image, same pitch, low note keeps continuing for a while. 

Song form is comprised with A-B-B'-A-C type. Special point of this song is at C part which is stopped all of a sudden. (at 4"29″). This feature is extraordinary thing in 1830s. His rule-breaking achievements influence to later composers.

This version is played by Vladimir Horowitz. He express the somewhat violent feeling very well. A rain sometimes can be a romantic thing, but sometimes regarded as a destructive thing.

The notable thing in his play in this song is in C part. That violent, strong and wild emotion fades away without any notice. This song is end suddenly but it is hard to recognize without special concentration.

Today's suggestion : 1. To find out where is the C part is located

                         and 2. Think about the image of his somewhat furious image of rain.

What image is the "Rain" to you?

Beethoven - Sonata No.8 'Pathetique' 3rd movement

Beethoven - Sonata No.8 'Pathetique' 3rd movement

This song is popular among the Beethoven's piano sonata.
We can hear this song anywhere, like in the Yeoyuido park, restaurant, departmentstore and museum.

Today, I want to introduce Soonhwon Kwon's Beethoven.
He is a pianist, attending Seoul Art College as a professor.
He is well-known as older brother of Boa(Korean K-pop singer) as well.

 Even if there is a classical note, player can express and interprete a song of his way. Soonhwon did in this song because music is expression.
You can see the name of the song, 'Pathetique'. This song is originally intended sad feeling. But he express temperance in this song, emphasis regularity. But entirely soft and powerful. It is not just a sad song but a controlled, passionate song by his intention.

Today's suggestion : Feel the difference how is different with A part and A' Part(at 3':40″)

Today, I want to share "Mozart Piano Concerto n.23 In A, K 488 - 2. Adagio".
This song is very suit for a rainy day. Even if this song is A major, atmosphere of A part is gloomy.
We need to focus on the boundless expression skill of Mozart's.
Actually it surpasses stereotypes and boundaries about Major and Minor chord.
What I really like the most part in this song is C part, energetic, bright melody progress is happening.
It is very dangerous when a composer tries to express multiple emotions in a song these days.
There were many tries in the music history, but successful work can be numbered. 
In other words, it is absurdly hard work. But he made it very successfully. 

Furthermore, this is a song of Piano concerto, he uses flute, cello, bass and bassoon appropriately. 
At that period, it is not permitted conventionally. So we can this trial it is marvelous.

Many critics say Mozart as a "Genius". Here's my appreciation of Mozart. 
He can do the other's can't do. That difference makes Mozart special.
He composes over 200 masterpieces in history even if he died when he was 35 years old. 

Today's suggestion : Let's feel when the change is happen drastically.
(actually when we are listening this song unconsciousness, it is not easy to find^^)