In 2020, I have been commissioned to compose music dedicated for the 40th anniversary of May 18th Democratic Uprising of Gwangju, South Korea.
As a mere composer, I was concerned for days and weeks if I am even allowed to approach the wounds that have not been sufficiently healed yet.
I recalled a phrase of Yukjabaegi(육자배기), a folk song commonly referred as the essence of the southern regions of South Korea.
My affection is a green mountain, thy affection is like an emerald stream
Streams may flow, but the mountain remains
Perhaps it is the stream, missing the mountain roundeth about (in circles eh~)
내 정은 청산이요 님의 정은 녹수로구나
녹수야 흐르건만 청산이야 변할소냐
아마도 녹수가 청산을 못잊어 휘휘 감고만 돌(거나 헤~)
Jung Eun Hye, sent me singing the melody altered robust and strong tune of Gyemyeon-jo(계면조 - minor scale) into a sentimental, warm tunes that resemble lullabies.
That is where it all began.
I cannot forget, I will not forget...remember…memorare…
I named the song “eternity and a day.”
Park Changhak, who is a lyricist, wrote a letter sent from those who went forward to those who remain, upon the melodies of “Marching for our Beloved”.
Do not regret not holding onto me
Remembering me is enough
How could we ever forget the day
How could we ever let our grudges go
for how long I wait for thee
when will we ever rejoin in smile
Until then please stay sound
Until then please stay sound
날 붙잡지 못한 걸 후회하지 말아요
날 기억해 주는 것 그걸로 됐소
어찌 우리 그날을 잊을 수 있겠소만
어찌 우리의 한이 풀릴 수 있겠소만
얼마나 더 그대를 기다릴 건지
언제 우리 웃으며 또 만날 건지
그때까지 그대여, 부디 잘 계시오
그때까지 그대여, 부디 잘 계시오
Holding onto the lingering imagery of this work, I carried on with the audio visual project Round and Around, directed by Jang Min Seung.
As if those works are fused into one.
This work, revolving around May 18th Gwangju Democratic Uprising in 1980, portrays the Republic of Korea before (1979 Bu-Ma Democratic Protests) and after (1988 Seoul Olympic) the Uprising, using photographs, video clips, and archived documents.
These psalms are reconstructed versions of the music composed for Round and Around.
I told myself again while composing.
I cannot forget...
I recollected the time I visited Auschwitz in the blistering winter, and the boiling summer a few years ago. There I was told a way to remember the cruel tragedy by the friends from Germany.
Inspired by folk songs of the southern regions of South Korea and ssitgimgut(a shaman ritual for cleaning dead person's
soul), “eternity and a day“ is a piece that offers a prayer for curing the old wounds from the past with the songs of memory and inquiries of wellbeing.
I kept on questioning, while composing tunes of the psalms, why the tragedy, pain, and dullness would repeat themselves again and again.
Man is but a breath; His days are like a passing shadow. (Psalm 144:4)
사람이란 한낱 숨결과도 같은 것
그의 날들은 지나가는 그림자와 같습니다.(시편 144:4)
I paid close attention to the outcries of agony, resentment towards fate, godward complains, and earnest prayers, that repeat in the old Holy Scriptures, and managed to acquire 12 tunes amongst 30 prayers carefully chosen by the artist Jang Minseung.
Taking into account the loss and pain that is inherent with the beginning of life, I considered employing traditional ancient Christianity-themed chorus, while constituting outcrying and lamenting vocal of Jeong Eun-hye as centerpiece, along with electronic sounds and string ensemble.
Remember how brief life is, how frail the sons of man you have created! (Psalm 89:48)
기억하소서, 제 인생이 얼마나 덧없는지를 당신께서 모든 사람을 얼마나 헛되이 창조하셨는지를.(시편 89:48)
The life of an individual is lethargically laid on the endlessly circling routine of history,
A shout in the sightless darkness, but there are moments of truth that must not be forgotten.
I composed these pieces, ruminating over these moments.
Memorare
Remember
기억하소서
Scripts for references are:
Korean - Bible: Newly translated Bible by Catholic Bishop's Conference of Korea in 2005
Latin -NOVA VULGATA Bibliorum Sacrorum Editio
English -New American Bible(Revised Edition)
composed and orchestrated by
정재일 jung jaeil
piano
정재일 jung jaeil
programming
정재일 jung jaeil
voice
정은혜 Jung Eun Hye
Budapest Scoring Orchestra and Choir
conducted by
Márton Tóth and Zoltán Pad
recorded at the
Rottenbiller Studio, Budapest
Tartan studio, Seoul
orchestra and choir produced by
Bálint Sapszon
orchestra coordinator
Bertalan Veér
choir coordinator
Anna Sapszon
recording Engineer
Dénes Rédly
soprano solo by
Orsi Sapszon
copyist
이예지 Lee Ye Jee
mixing and mastering
김병극 Kim Byoung Keuk
Management
임연정 Lim Yeon Jung
from the film '둥글고 둥글게 ROUND AND AROUND'
directed by
장민승 Jang Min Seung
editor colorist
Stone Johnston
scenography
여신동 Yeo Shindong