K-Content News
[INTERVIEW] Violinist Clara-Jumi Kang plays Bach to express freedom in suffering
- May 24, 2021
[INTERVIEW] Violinist Clara-Jumi Kang plays Bach
to express freedom in suffering
Updated : 2021-05-23 17:56
By Park Ji-won
Playing "The Complete Sonatas and Partitas for Solo Violin" has been one of the most challenging works for violinists as it is technically difficult to execute and of long duration at approximately 2 hours.
But award-winning violinist Clara-Jumi Kang is set to take on the challenging task. She will be performing Bach's notable work throughout the country as part of her lifelong project from May 25 at the Daejeon Arts Center and from June 1 at the Gyeonggi Arts Center.
Noting that playing Bach's "Complete Sonatas and Partitas" is something she wanted to do since she was in her early 20s, Kang said, "It is a project that I want to keep doing, because I can play the repertoire anywhere with the violin. I would like to visit various places such as churches, museums, orphanages and hospitals. I also want to record it more than one time in my life," she said in a recent written interview with The Korea Times.
Since the coronavirus pandemic, the winner of the 1st prizes at the Seoul Violin Competition in 2009 and the Sendai Violin Competition in 2010 who has been active across Korea and Europe, held many performances in Korea. Regarding the project, Kang tried to play the complete sonatas and partitas in a single performance during the Marvao International Music Festival in Portugal in 2019, but could not as she was only given one hour on stage per day.
When asked why she chose to play the repertoire amid the pandemic, she stressed that the difficult musical pieces express freedom during a time of suffering and resonate with those who were hit hard by the COVID-19 pandemic.
"I feel the loneliness, disconnect, and frustration which we feel during this pandemic while playing Bach's piece. Whenever I need to meditate, I want to listen to the work and practice it. Nobody had a choice but to spend a lot of time during the past year feeling that way. Bach's complete works may seem very difficult and laborious on the surface, but if you explore them, you encounter a world of freedom, abundance, and happiness."
"Even though we are trapped in this pandemic, I think we should also be able to learn and feel something, find happiness, and develop within that frustration and loneliness little by little. I think Bach's repertoire suits this situation very well."
Kang says performing Bach's works is still a difficult task for her, but also motivates her to keep improving as an artist.
"I think no one can say that he or she fully understood Bach in their lifetime. There is no single answer for music, but the complete work gives me, a musician, inspiration and motivation to keep working. That's why a musician keeps studying a piece; to feel the emotion."
She has been trying to achieve new goals every year. But the pandemic gave her time to revisit that thought.
"Since last year, musicians had to face a situation where they cannot perform. I ended up realizing how much of a blessing it is to perform. My goal is to play music until I die and to make continuous progress and efforts as a musician throughout my entire life.
The 34-year-old highlighted the value of classical art in this digital and pandemic era.
"In the era of digital media, especially when we continue to want visual stimulation rather than sounds, I think many people may have felt the greatness of music and art during the COVID-19 pandemic. In history, it always was art and literature that people turned to for comfort during the times of war and tribulation. And during such difficult times, the greatest works of art were created."
Playing "The Complete Sonatas and Partitas for Solo Violin" has been one of the most challenging works for violinists as it is technically difficult to execute and of long duration at approximately 2 hours.
But award-winning violinist Clara-Jumi Kang is set to take on the challenging task. She will be performing Bach's notable work throughout the country as part of her lifelong project from May 25 at the Daejeon Arts Center and from June 1 at the Gyeonggi Arts Center.
Noting that playing Bach's "Complete Sonatas and Partitas" is something she wanted to do since she was in her early 20s, Kang said, "It is a project that I want to keep doing, because I can play the repertoire anywhere with the violin. I would like to visit various places such as churches, museums, orphanages and hospitals. I also want to record it more than one time in my life," she said in a recent written interview with The Korea Times.
Since the coronavirus pandemic, the winner of the 1st prizes at the Seoul Violin Competition in 2009 and the Sendai Violin Competition in 2010 who has been active across Korea and Europe, held many performances in Korea. Regarding the project, Kang tried to play the complete sonatas and partitas in a single performance during the Marvao International Music Festival in Portugal in 2019, but could not as she was only given one hour on stage per day.
When asked why she chose to play the repertoire amid the pandemic, she stressed that the difficult musical pieces express freedom during a time of suffering and resonate with those who were hit hard by the COVID-19 pandemic.
"I feel the loneliness, disconnect, and frustration which we feel during this pandemic while playing Bach's piece. Whenever I need to meditate, I want to listen to the work and practice it. Nobody had a choice but to spend a lot of time during the past year feeling that way. Bach's complete works may seem very difficult and laborious on the surface, but if you explore them, you encounter a world of freedom, abundance, and happiness."
"Even though we are trapped in this pandemic, I think we should also be able to learn and feel something, find happiness, and develop within that frustration and loneliness little by little. I think Bach's repertoire suits this situation very well."
Kang says performing Bach's works is still a difficult task for her, but also motivates her to keep improving as an artist.
"I think no one can say that he or she fully understood Bach in their lifetime. There is no single answer for music, but the complete work gives me, a musician, inspiration and motivation to keep working. That's why a musician keeps studying a piece; to feel the emotion."
She has been trying to achieve new goals every year. But the pandemic gave her time to revisit that thought.
"Since last year, musicians had to face a situation where they cannot perform. I ended up realizing how much of a blessing it is to perform. My goal is to play music until I die and to make continuous progress and efforts as a musician throughout my entire life.
The 34-year-old highlighted the value of classical art in this digital and pandemic era.
"In the era of digital media, especially when we continue to want visual stimulation rather than sounds, I think many people may have felt the greatness of music and art during the COVID-19 pandemic. In history, it always was art and literature that people turned to for comfort during the times of war and tribulation. And during such difficult times, the greatest works of art were created."
Reporter : jwpark@koreatimes.co.kr
