State Symphony Orchestra of the Democratic People's Republic of Korea
Encyclopedia
The State Symphony Orchestra of DPRK (조선국립교향악단, Joseon Gungrip Gyohyangakdan) is the only large orchestra of Western style in North Korea
and was the first arts group to be established there.
SSO (at that time called 'Symphony Orchestra of the State Arts Theatre') became independent in 1956. In 1969, it combined with the Orchestra of the (North) Korean Arts Film Studio and recorded film scores. The SSO incorporated again with the Sea of Blood Opera Company in 1971.
In the 1970s, the SSO premiered many well-known orchestral works of North Korea, including Arirang
, Bumper Harvest comes in Cheongsan Plains, Dear House at my Hometown, Maiden on a Swing, Piano Concerto Korea is One, Violin Concerto Song of Nostalgia and Symphony The Sea of Blood.
The SSO became fully independent from other arts groups in 1980 and adopted its present name. In 1982, the SSO played Isang Yun
's orchestral work Exemplum, in memoriam Kwangju for the first time in North Korea, in the presence of the composer. The orchestra toured Poland in 1986, receiving favorable criticism for performances of Isang Yun's orchestral works. Besides Poland, the SSO traveled to Bulgaria, Romania, East Germany, China (PRC), the USSR and Japan.
The SSO received the highest honor of North Korea, the 'Kim Il Sung Medal', in May 2000.
's symphonies. They play chiefly their own concert hall named Moranbong Theatre in Pyongyang
.
SSO's principal conductor is Byeong-Hwa Kim since 1969. And this orchestra also plays under Jeong-Gyun Kim(associate principal conductor), Ho-Yun Kim (associate principal conductor), Gwang-Seong Choi (associate conductor), Mun-Yeong Heo (associate conductor) and other guest conductors include Il-Jin Kim
, Yeong-Sang Han, Jeong-Rim Jo, Jun-Mu Lee, Hong-Jae Kim
and Francis Travis
. SSO's concertmaster
is Gi-Hyeok Choi.
for the first time. They played two own concerts and two 'unity' concerts with KBS Symphony Orchestra
in Seoul. In 2002, SSO met again with KBS Symphony Orchestra in Pyongyang and performed together. In these concerts, SSO played first time with well-known soprano Sumi Jo, cellist Han-na Chang
and other artists of South Korea.
In 2005, they recorded the Seventh Symphony, which was composed by Dmitri Shostakovich
for their 15th album released from KMC. It was subtitled as "Foreign Music Vol.1 (외국음악집 1)". It was not only the first CD ever released in North Korea which only contained Western classical music, but it also has longest playing time of any North Korean CDs.
North Korea
The Democratic People’s Republic of Korea , , is a country in East Asia, occupying the northern half of the Korean Peninsula. Its capital and largest city is Pyongyang. The Korean Demilitarized Zone serves as the buffer zone between North Korea and South Korea...
and was the first arts group to be established there.
History
The SSO was established on 8 August 1946 with the name Central Symphony Orchestra. In January 1947, this orchestra reinforced members and incorporated with the State Arts Theatre following year. They participated not only their subscription concerts but performances of ballets and operas including the first grand opera in Korean peninsula People's Commanders composed by Sun-Nam Kim.SSO (at that time called 'Symphony Orchestra of the State Arts Theatre') became independent in 1956. In 1969, it combined with the Orchestra of the (North) Korean Arts Film Studio and recorded film scores. The SSO incorporated again with the Sea of Blood Opera Company in 1971.
In the 1970s, the SSO premiered many well-known orchestral works of North Korea, including Arirang
Arirang
"Arirang" is a Korean folk song, sometimes considered the unofficial national anthem of Korea. Arirang is an ancient native Korean word with no direct modern meaning.- Variations :...
, Bumper Harvest comes in Cheongsan Plains, Dear House at my Hometown, Maiden on a Swing, Piano Concerto Korea is One, Violin Concerto Song of Nostalgia and Symphony The Sea of Blood.
The SSO became fully independent from other arts groups in 1980 and adopted its present name. In 1982, the SSO played Isang Yun
Isang Yun
Isang Yun was a Korean-German composer originally from Korea. According to his official publisher's Boosey & Hawkes biography of him, he was granted political asylum by West Germany, eventually becoming a naturalised German citizen, following his abduction and torture in 1967 by the South Korean...
's orchestral work Exemplum, in memoriam Kwangju for the first time in North Korea, in the presence of the composer. The orchestra toured Poland in 1986, receiving favorable criticism for performances of Isang Yun's orchestral works. Besides Poland, the SSO traveled to Bulgaria, Romania, East Germany, China (PRC), the USSR and Japan.
The SSO received the highest honor of North Korea, the 'Kim Il Sung Medal', in May 2000.
Repertoires, concert venues & conductors
SSO is only one large orchestra of Western form in North Korea but include players of improved Korean folk wind instruments, instrumental & vocal soloists and composers for itself. They perform (North) Korean orchestral and chamber works in 70% and Western orchestral works in 30%. Sometimes they perform not only without a conductor but all the players perform without scores;even massive and complicated works along the likes of Gustav MahlerGustav Mahler
Gustav Mahler was a late-Romantic Austrian composer and one of the leading conductors of his generation. He was born in the village of Kalischt, Bohemia, in what was then Austria-Hungary, now Kaliště in the Czech Republic...
's symphonies. They play chiefly their own concert hall named Moranbong Theatre in Pyongyang
Pyongyang
Pyongyang is the capital of the Democratic People's Republic of Korea, commonly known as North Korea, and the largest city in the country. Pyongyang is located on the Taedong River and, according to preliminary results from the 2008 population census, has a population of 3,255,388. The city was...
.
SSO's principal conductor is Byeong-Hwa Kim since 1969. And this orchestra also plays under Jeong-Gyun Kim(associate principal conductor), Ho-Yun Kim (associate principal conductor), Gwang-Seong Choi (associate conductor), Mun-Yeong Heo (associate conductor) and other guest conductors include Il-Jin Kim
Il-Jin Kim
Kim Il-Jin is a North Korean conductor.He was born in Manpo, a city of Jagang Province, but he grew up mainly in Wonsan. He studied cello in Pyongyang University of Music and Dance....
, Yeong-Sang Han, Jeong-Rim Jo, Jun-Mu Lee, Hong-Jae Kim
Hong-Jae Kim
Kim Hong-Jae is a Zainichi Korean conductor.-Early life:The first experience of music at his early age was an upright piano at his mother's maiden home. In 1967, he entered Amagasaki Korean Middle School and studied clarinet in school band. He also studied improved Korean folk instruments sent...
and Francis Travis
Francis Travis
Francis Travis is an American-born Swiss orchestral conductor.Born in Detroit, Michigan, his advanced musical studies were at the University of Zurich, with a Ph.D. in Musicology after writing a dissertation on Giuseppe Verdi...
. SSO's concertmaster
Concertmaster
The concertmaster/mistress is the spalla or leader, of the first violin section of an orchestra. In the UK, the term commonly used is leader...
is Gi-Hyeok Choi.
Collaboration with South Korean artists
In 1998, SSO played Arirang under South Korean conductor Beom-Hun Park in 'Isang Yun Reunification Concert'. Two years after, SSO visited South KoreaSouth Korea
The Republic of Korea , , is a sovereign state in East Asia, located on the southern portion of the Korean Peninsula. It is neighbored by the People's Republic of China to the west, Japan to the east, North Korea to the north, and the East China Sea and Republic of China to the south...
for the first time. They played two own concerts and two 'unity' concerts with KBS Symphony Orchestra
KBS Symphony Orchestra
The KBS Symphony Orchestra is one of the most famous symphony orchestras in South Korea. It was founded in 1956 as the radio orchestra of the Korean Broadcasting System ....
in Seoul. In 2002, SSO met again with KBS Symphony Orchestra in Pyongyang and performed together. In these concerts, SSO played first time with well-known soprano Sumi Jo, cellist Han-na Chang
Han-na Chang
Han-Na Chang is a South Korean cellist and conductor.-Childhood:She was born in Suwon, Gyeonggi-do, South Korea to Korean parents. Chang began studying piano at age 3, and began her study in cello three years later at age 6...
and other artists of South Korea.
Recordings
The State Symphony Orchestra has released two compact discs containing Isang Yun's orchestral, chamber and choral works via Japanese company Camerata in the 1980s. Since 2000, they have made their own CD series via Kwangmyong Music Company (KMC), North Korea's only recording company. They only recorded domestic works until 2003.In 2005, they recorded the Seventh Symphony, which was composed by Dmitri Shostakovich
Dmitri Shostakovich
Dmitri Dmitriyevich Shostakovich was a Soviet Russian composer and one of the most celebrated composers of the 20th century....
for their 15th album released from KMC. It was subtitled as "Foreign Music Vol.1 (외국음악집 1)". It was not only the first CD ever released in North Korea which only contained Western classical music, but it also has longest playing time of any North Korean CDs.