Скачать или смотреть Ballade No. 5 “Seungmu“ (Korean Monk's Dance) Op. 311 by Kuk-jin Kim

Ballade No. 5 “Seungmu“ is the last and only separately titled work in Kim’s published ballades volume. It was composed much later than the earlier four ballades, which were written between 1974 and 1987 at intervals of roughly five years. Ballade No. 5 emerged in 1996, nearly a decade after Ballade No. 4, and carries the much later opus number 311 compared to No. 4’s 121. This long gap is reflected in its writing. The work reveals a more mature compositional voice and a deeper, more contemplative sound world shaped by Kim’s engagement with Buddhism. He stated that the immediate inspiration came from the poem Seungmu by the poet Ji-hoon Cho, and that he used the traditional rhythmic idea of manjungsak in order to evoke the Buddhist imagery of the poem.

Pianist Jung Hwa Ko, who collaborated closely with Kim and performed many of his works, regarded this ballade as the piece that most clearly embodies “the Koreanness” within his piano writing. It became a regular part of her recital programmes and remains one of the most representative works from Kim’s mature period.

Seungmu itself refers to a traditional Korean dance associated with Buddhist themes, known for its expressive stillness, graceful restraint, and sweeping gestures. In this piano version, the music mirrors the essence of the dance. The opening unfolds in calm, spacious lines before expanding into passages of rhythmic vitality and heightened colour. The contrast between meditative quiet and energetic burst reflects both the dancer’s poised movements and the spiritual tension embedded in the source poem. Through these shifts, the piece moves like a ritual, balancing inward reflection with outward motion.