Young Jo Lee: An analysis of stylistic features of the 'Variations for Piano on the Theme Baugoge' (Korea)

Numerous compositional works created by Korean composers have been introduced to an international audience over the last decades. The majority of these works are not only based on traditional Korean music but also on Western musical style. Around 1990, a new attempt was made in Korean music to blend traditional Korean and Western music style.; Among many Korean composers, Young Jo Lee (b.1943) especially has contributed to the development of a new movement and focused on composing in a new style composition. His works are admired by many Korean performers for his unique and expressive compositional techniques. Aside from appealing to the performer, his works are approachable to the public, so he is appreciated as being a well-rounded composer in Korea and abroad.; Young Jo Lee composed the work, The Variations for Piano on the Theme Baugoge which, according to a personal interview with Lee, he composed for educational purposes. By composing this work, Lee wanted to help music students understand some of the basic styles of music. He wrote variations, arranged chronologically based on the works of various Western composers.; Lee's Variations is of importance for two reasons: first, the work is based on the Korean art song Baugoge, which is full of nationalistic expression, and second, the work utilizes Western compositional techniques from J. S. Bach to Messiaen. Lee also presents his own use of compositional techniques. Based on this understanding, the core of this project is focused on analyzing how traditional Korean art song is stylistically transformed through the use of Western compositional techniques.; The stylistic analysis of the Variations for Piano on the Theme Baugoge will be done through musical analysis and score study. This project makes an attempt to provide stylistic characteristics of each variation to aid the performer in an accurate interpretation of the variations in his/her performance.