Piano is the crucial instrument in western classical music. This instrument has become a part and parcel of every church. It is impossible to imagine singing of hymns in Sunday service without this basic instrument. Thus, piano has become a very popular musical instrument. Now, even more adults are taking up this activity.
    While the European market for piano is going down for craze for the loud pop music, the demand for the instrument is booming in eastern countries like China, Japan and Korea. It is now no more considered as a sign of wealth but rather displays culture and learning. However, in these eastern countries, still the training institutes of required standard are not available in number, forcing the learners to go abroad and incur huge costs.
    Perhaps, more piano recitals and imparting training by the experienced pianists can fill the gap and encourage more youth to take up this fantastic music instrument, not only as a hobby but also as a professional because of its potential demand for the education institutes and the churches.
    With this aim, the city of lights, Gwangju, which is equally famous for its delicacies and music, organize piano recitals and other musical performances. On July 18th, the city was treated to a spellbound piano recital at the Geumho Art Hall centrally located in the U Square Cultural Center. The performer was Gwangju’s own, Dong Su-jeong, a contemporary of Korean international pianists such as Son Yeol-lum and Chu Seong-jin. Her husband, Dr. Yang Han-mo, Korean’s one of the top specialist and otolaryngologist and a renowned philanthropist, was there to receive, each and every guest, at the show.
    With typical Korean sense of precision timing, at 7:30 p.m., the pianist elegantly pressed in blacks, strode onto the stage and sat on the grand piano in front. Being a devout Christian, before starting the performance, she momentarily closed her eyes to say a silent prayer and sought lord’s blessings. With smooth and subtle touch on the keys, she started with Jean Philippe Rameau’s Gavotte, with six variations in a minor, and then filled the hall with technically very difficult, four impromptus, including the number four in C sharp minor – “Fantasic Impromtu” op.66, of Frederic Chopin.
    Her fingers flew at the piano produced melodious thunder sounds. Though I was a given a very vantage seat in the hall, it was not possible to catch the movement of her fingers. Her face showed no signs of such hectic physical movements and kept a very calm and composed facial expression.
     A short intermission, not to the liking of the jam-packed hall of the audience, who were continually glued to the seats even during the interval, with closed eyes and fingers moving, with melodious music still in mind, not realizing there was a short break. The organizers had not permitted the usual opening speeches and numbers of photo clicking and presentation of flower bouquets, to ensure enjoyment of music in a pin-drop silence environment.
    After the intermission, Francois Couperin, there competitions (Piéces de Clavecin, Les barricades mystérieuses and Le Tic-Toc-Choc ou Les maillotins), came to life at the pianist’s finger tips, when met with her delicate but passionate touch on the keys and powerful pedal use, taking the audience’s breath away. The moment when she was showered with seemingly endless applause and acclamation was, she played six compositions – Le tombeau de Couperin of Maurice ravel.
    After the final recital, the audience gave her a standing ovation. The audience consisted of city’s who’s who eminent doctors as well as a large number of students (must be piano students). There was a demand for some more number by her, and the audience was not willing to leave the venue. But it seemed the hall was booked for another function, and this great pianist, with a final deep bow, gracefully bade the final farewell to the audience. Courtesy and good mannerism, which seems to be the monopoly of the Koreans, Dr. Yang with his team, was personally there to thank and see off the audience. To the request of the audience, he agreed to make a CD of today’s memorable piano recital, and give it to the music fans of his beloved.
    Surely, many youths who had come from far and near, adjusting their study tuitions, were motivated to emulate the pianists and make a name for themselves in this field of music. No doubt, such mesmerizing performances are not only a source of entertainment to the over-worked office goers but also an attraction to hundreds of aspiring musicians.

<Interview with Pianist Dong Su-jeong>
Since the pianist, Mrs. Dong Su-jeong, is also associated with the Gwangju International Centre (GIC) and regularly delivers lectures at the music branch of the GIC. I requested her for a small interview (though a brief description of today’s performance is mentioned on the attached colorful brochure, posters and specially printed tickets (invitations for the show).

Q: What influenced you most, to become a pianist?
A: Born in a Christian family and listening to Sunday church music, I have been constantly exposed to music from the childhood. Piano has always been around me. I enjoyed the piano sound as a child, and wanted to play it myself.
Q: Where all you have been to, for your music training?
A: In my time, though the western classical music was picking up, but there were not much facilities for learning it. I always wanted to study abroad to widen my scope of music. To me music is life and it denoted a universal language. After graduating from the Chonnam National University and EE WAH University, with my husband’s encouragement and support, I went abroad to study at Germany’s –Düsseldor Musik Hochoschule and at America’s Boston Universities.
Q: After all these foreign trainings, where all you have given piano performances?
A: As a student, besides being a member of the Gwangju and Busan city’s symphony orchestras, later was associated with the KBS. While at abroad also, I had the honor to receive invitations for performing at international shows with Lerbach recitals and Austria-Swiss shows. I am proud to receive recognitions from these international organizations/shows.
Q: With your vast experience, how you share your experience with the locals?
A: I am a visiting professor of music to the Chonnam National University and Mokpo National University and regularly associate with the GIC’s Branch of Music, for lectures and training. At my church, where my family’s heart belongs I am the chief pianist. I guide and train the budding local pianists. My home is an open-door for anybody, who has interest in piano and music.
Q: From your years of experience at Korea and abroad, it must have been difficult to choose works for today’s recitals.
A: I decided to have works of 4 famous composers (a brief about each work is listed in today’s brochure.). They all had a great influence on me, as a pianist. So I decided to have some work of each of these 4 composers, for today’s recital.
Q: Do you still feel nervous before concerts?
A: To be very frank, yes. Piano recitals before such a large audience is certainly taxing, as you have to satisfy everyone and your own personal reputation is also involved.
Q: How you normally practice?
A: For a classical music, for that matter any type (vocal or instrumental), it is but natural that the concerned performer practice every day. I try to practice every day, besides busy professional life and social commitments, as my husband’s job demands such formalities. A Korean wife has to perform multiple roles.
Q: What are your future plans?
A: Would like to put up more shows, where my family and friends have opportunity to see my on-stage shows. I would also like to explore other great composers and cut a CD and bring Korean musicians to the forefront.
Q: Your message to the young Korean pianists?
A: Have faith and true to yourself. Dedicate and have a strong will-power. Since piano requires long practice hours in a quiet room, good health is a must. Our churches are the moral and educational institutes to cater to all our ambitions and plans. And of course, we must learn English language to visit abroad for training, inter mixing and broadening our vision. I have big hopes for our youth. Amen.
 

By Surgit Singh Puri, Indian Student Attending Korean Language Course,
Language Education Center at CNU