Quick Facts
- Short piece for violin and piano
- Written in 2018
- Commissioned by Ohio University
About the Piece
- Program notes from the composer:
“When I was commissioned to write a piece inspired by my Korean identity, I immediately thought of the story of Kyunwoo the cow herder and Jiknyeo, a princess. In Korean culture, the two lovers represent the constellations Altair and Vega. Their once-a -year reunion is celebrated by Koreans during the Chilseok festival.
Kyunwoo and Jiknyeo fell deeply in love but their love angered the King of Heaven. As punishment, Kyunwoo was sent far West, and Jiknyeo was sent East with the Milky Way separating them. The star-crossed lovers were permitted to meet once a year, but were devasted when they found that there was no way to cross the Milky Way. Hearing their anguish, birds gathered to form a bridge so that the lovers could meet in the middle briefly before having to return to their respective posts. Ancient Korean people believed the rainy season in summer which begins around the Chilseok Festival came from Kyunwoo and Jiknyeo’s tears.
I wanted to give tribute to this beautiful story I heard as a child. There is something universal about creating stories from looking up into the night sky. For me nothing says more about my Korean identity than these stories I’ve heard as a kid. This story reminds me of when two people are genuinely in love but every circumstance says no, they cannot be together. I was inspired to write this piece based on this bittersweet feeling from this folk tale.”
Cut IDs
23634