The 'Variations-Fantasie for two pianos' is based on the theme of "Salut d'Amour" by Edward Elgar. The musical language of Elgar, a representative of the late 19th century Romantic era. unfolds a language of elegance embedded in the British aristocratic romanticism, excluding all superfluous brilliance and passion, Composed of a slow introductory section and eight variations, the piece comprises five movements. Unlike the traditional variations scheme of introducting the main theme at the beginning, the two pianos introduce melodies that spring out in a fantasy-like manner, free and detached from the traditional context. Furthermore, the presences of poly-metrical, polyrhythmic, polytonal and poly-chordal languages intensify the beauty of disparity. Along with the theme of "Salut d'Amour", a Korean nursery rhyme, "Opa Saeng Kak" ("Remembering My Brother")is introduced and developed throughout the piece. This children's song, written by Tae Joon PARK, was the only song my mother knew and sang to me when I was child. These two main themes, symbolizing the Eastern and the Western sentiments, are dissolved and treated contrapuntally, creating a unifying language of philosophy that best expressed the concept of the New-Romanticism of the 21st century.
(Pianos : Hyang Ah LEE /Nany HAN)
(CD) Young Ja Lee Korean Traditional Music & Ensemble Music
