• Tracks

When the Korean composer Isang Yun died in Berlin in 1995 at the age of 78, there still was a touch of the exotic in his oeuvre which was characterized by the cultural fusion between Asia and Europe. Isang Yun has become known primarily as a composer of five symphonies, numerous orchestral works and five operas. Amongst his musical oeuvres, however, his almost 50 chamber music works occupy a central position. Yun has composed chamber music virtually all his life, where, in addition to traditional genres such as the string quartet, he has experimented with unusual combinations. This aspect and Yun's affinity for the accordion, whose capability for sound modulation strongly attracted the composer, have played an essential role in the selection of works for this CD. The accordion is present in all of these pieces as a connecting link. In the "Concertino" and "Intermezzo" it is heard from beginning to end. In "Pezzo fantasioso per due strumenti con basso ad libitum" the performers have decided in favour of violin, accordion and cello. In the case of the "Duo" for viola and piano, the piano part was transcribed by Stefan Hussong for accordion. "I cut out a piece of the cosmic stream." (Isang Yun)