Скачать или смотреть Hwan Hee Kim - Ballade No 1 (담시곡 1번) op, 49 composed by Kuk-jin Kim

One of composer Kuk-jin Kim’s greatest challenges was establishing a Ballade for solo piano that captures the essence of lyricism. Korean composers traditionally did not produce a significant number of piano works, and within the Ballade genre, great masterpieces like those of Chopin already exist as definitive models. This meant Kim faced the challenge of introducing his own creative vision while working within an established tradition.

Chopin’s Four Ballades are among the most beloved works in the classical repertoire, demonstrating the piano’s narrative and expressive potential. Similarly, Kim published five Ballades, and in his Ballade No.1, Op.49, one can clearly observe traces of his study of Chopin, particularly in terms of structure and thematic development. The resemblance to Chopin’s Ballade No.1 is noticeable, but given the influence of Chopin on the genre itself, this is not surprising.

However, Kim does not simply imitate—he enriches the piece with his own unique musical identity. Unlike his other piano works, where he often incorporated direct elements from Korean folk music or Gugak, in this Ballade, he takes a different approach. Instead of quoting traditional melodies, he develops his own thematic material and harmonic language to evoke a distinctly Korean atmosphere. The use of evocative scales and striking rhythmic gestures creates an almost mystical, Eastern-inspired soundscape. These distinctive features make Ballade No.1, Op.49 a fascinating and significant work worth exploring.