Aleksey Igudesman: "Koberia" performed by Vadim Repin, Clara-Jumi Kang and the Sejong Soloists

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Live from the Tchaikovsky Concert Hall in Moscow:
"Koberia Fantasy" is a Piece For Two Violins and Chamber Orchestra Vadim Repin, Clara-Jumi Kang and the Sejong Soloists.

Koberia Fantasy
By Aleksey Igudesman
For 2 Solo Violins and Strings
Dedicated to Vadim Repin and the Trans Siberian Arts Festival

"Where on earth is Koberia?“, you may well ask. It is hidden away between two places very dear to my heart, which are strangely connected in my life and the life of quite a few others.
What many people may not know is that there is a hidden connection between Korea and Siberia, which is explored in the Koberia Fantasy.
There is quite a large Korean community in Siberia who have become entirely Russian/Siberian. I learned about that from my friend Irina Pak, a Siberian/Korean violinist presently playing in the Tonhalle Orchestra in Zurich, Switzerland.

When the Siberian violinist Vadim Repin asked me to write a piece for 2 violins and string orchestra for him to perform with Clara-Jumi Kang, a violinist born in Korea, I knew I wanted to write something that has some links to both countries. I invented this beautiful enigmatic place by the name of Koberia, with its own main theme (or maybe even anthem) that recurrs all together six times. In the Koberia Fantasy it is called "Welcome to Koberia".

Between every time we hear the Koberian anthem, we delve into themes that could in some way remind one of either Korea or Siberia. The first one is named „Seoul Music“ and is essentially a simple Korean sounding melody. Initially I was considering quoting the famous Korean song „Arirang“ but decided not to be derivetive and go for something entirely original, yet slightly remeniscent of it. „Seoul Music“ consists of two melodies. If you hear hints of the German national anthem, you are not going mad. It is a little reminder of Clara’s German roots, a country where she has spent many years of her life.

After a brief return to „Welcome to Koberia“ 2, we go to the second side theme called „Too many Pelmeni“. Now, let me be clear: I do not actually believe it is possible to have too many pelmeni. Since I myself have Siberian roots, I grew up eating a vast quantity of these amazingly delicious dumplings and love them passionately to this day. The two melodies here are both full of fun and delight, truly in Siberian spirit, I believe.

We return to „Welcome to Koberia“ 3 followed by a section called „The garlic princess“. Here the two solo violins exchange pizzicati, evoking the sound of traditional Korean music. The whole section is based on a simple 4 bar sequence, on top of which I layer more and more little pentatonic melodies.

After „Welcome to Koberia“ 4, I delve into a theme that quite conciously sounds like the side theme from the last movement of the Tchaikovsky violin concerto. I always thought the Tchaikovsky sounds like a Bear or a Siberian Tiger. Therefore the name: „Bear the Tiger in mind“ is a play on words in English. The second part of it is a brief Presto in which I take another few notes of the third movement of Tchaikovsky’s violin concerto and play around with it.

When we return to „Welcome to Koberia“ 5, we suddenly delve into a much slower tempo and I introduce a new tune on top of the Koberian harmonies. We soon return to the original Koberian tempo and theme and even change key in a sort of mini development section, before we enter what I call the „Mix it up so that they clap“ section, where I literally do that. I mix all the themes up together and get the two solo violinists to encourage the audience to clap along at a designated point.

After most of the themes are heard again in a more or less obvious manner, we come back to „Welcome to Koberia“ 6, where we hear the theme one last time. The final bars are named „Good Bye and come back soon“ enticing the players and the audience to visit this beuatiful and very real, fictional place. Long live Koberia!

Aleksey Igudesman