Spring gagok concert held today
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Poster for Spring Gagok Concert
By Yun Suh-young
A spring gagok, concert will be held today at the Sejong Center for the Performing Arts. This is the 22nd Spring Gagok Concert organized by Dongin Music.
Gagok in Korean refers to a genre of vocal music using lyrics from a poem. This year, 28 gagok pieces will be performed during the concert. Four pieces are by renowned composer Lee An-sam who is also the chairman of the concert's organizing committee.
Lee An-sam’s composition "Our Love" will open the concert with soprano Lim Chung-wha and tenor Lee Hyun singing.
"This is a song based on an eponymous poem which is about a couple's ideal married life. The poem was written by Seo Young-soon. The piece is very uplifting as it is about the couple's beautiful and romantic years together and pledges for their happy future," said Lee An-sam during a phone interview with The Korea Times.
"When composing music, you need to know the character of the person who wrote the lyrics. So with this poem, it was easy to compose ― it only took 15 days compared to my usual two to three months ― because it was a fixed-format poem which was easy to understand and the lyrics were simple. It depicts the everyday life of the couple beautifully and honestly."
The song has been performed numerous times at concerts in Seoul, Daegu and Busan. However, this is the first time for it to be performed with an orchestra.
"This year, for the first time, the song will be performed with an orchestra ― the Millennium Symphony Orchestra," said Lee.
"This duet is choreographed in waltz-style music where singers should dance to the music. We plan to perform it that way in the future."
The Spring Gagok Concert is organized by Seoul Media Group and Dongin Music and this is the first time the concert will be held in collaboration with a media group.