Korean Composers?

[monafam]

While reading the Japanese Composer thread, there were a couple comments about Korean composers.  My brother lived in Korea for several years and has adopted 3 Korean children, so there is certainly an affinity for that country.   

Are there any good Korean composers out there (any era)? 

Thanks in advance!

[springrite]

The most famous, and probably the only well known internationally famous Korean composer is Isang Yun. There has been lots of posts on him in this forum. Do a search and you will find them. His 5 symphonies are wonderful as are his chamber music. But I consider his symphony cycle to be his best works. His music is German sounding (he was trained in West Germany and lived there most of his life). The oriental element shows up mostly in his smaller ensamble works.

[Tapkaara]

What an interesting thread, and I suppose a good companion to the Japanese composer thread.

I know practically nothing about Korean composers. Here is one I found on Wikipedia:

http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Isang_Yun

[monafam]

What an interesting thread, and I suppose a good companion to the Japanese composer thread.

I know practically nothing about Korean composers. Here is one I found on Wikipedia:

http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Isang_Yun

Thanks.  The Wiki article was definitely interesting -- particular his "kidnapping" by the South Korean secret police.....

I also came across this on Wiki (not the be-all-end-all, but a good source nonetheless) for Korean Composers.  It's a pretty sparse list and maybe there are forum readers that can expand this list...

http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Category:Korean_composers

[bhodges]

One composer I like (based on one recording) is Unsuk Chin.  She studied with Ligeti and there are echoes of his style, as well as some spectral techniques, but I find her hard to classify.  Here is her bio on Boosey & Hawkes' site.

I have the CD below with Akrostichon-Wortspiel, by the Ensemble Intercontemporain.  The DVD is her opera, Alice in Wonderland, that premiered in 2007.  Haven't seen it yet.

--Bruce

[snyprrr]

I believe there's a Yun thread around here somewhere.