Arirang – Beloved, my Soul Longs for You!
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| free of charge |
| Please register in advance for the event. |
| German |
| Berlin Exhibition, 1st floor, Hall 5 Berlin Room |
| Belongs to: Ari-Arirang |
Love. Longing. Home. Suffering. Hope. Arirang!
Hardly any other song is as closely linked to Korea’s cultural identity as the folk song Arirang. Arirang is more than just a song, it reflects the soul of Korea. The lyrics deal with crossing the “Arirang Pass” and saying goodbye to a loved one. It evokes feelings of love, longing, home, suffering, and hope. These are closely tied to the history of Korea. The song encompasses not only love, but also the suffering of life.
Arirang is a projection surface for political and social narratives. During the Japanese occupation, it served as a protest hymn against the regime. Its roots are deeply anchored in Korean culture, the song’s tradition is comparatively short.
Beyond the individual provinces, the song has made a remarkable global triumphal march. K-pop bands such as BTS and Kingdom emphasise its timeless relevance with their interpretations of Arirang. Frank Sinatra was also inspired to create his own version of the Korean song. Whether jazz or K-pop, Korean or English, instrumental or sung: Arirang is understood everywhere. It connects people through a universal message.
What is the fascination of Arirang to this day? Together with the Korean musicians of the ensemble NUNC Seungyeon Baik, Seonman Kim, Soyoung Shin, Dongjin Lee and Soyeon Shin, Frank Böhme embarks on a musical journey of discovery behind the history of the song and the tale of sorrow of Arirang. They reveal connections and demonstrate the vitality of an extraordinary piece of history.
Lecture: Professor Frank Böhme, Hamburg University of Music and Drama
Ensemble NUNC
Cello: Ms. Seungyeon Baik
Clarinet: Mr. Seonman Kim
Violin: Ms. Soyoung Shin
Piano: Mr. Dongjin Lee
Soprano: Ms. Soyeon Shin
Free of charge with the support of the Ministry of Culture, Sports and Tourism of the Republic of Korea.
This event accompanies the special exhibition Ari-Arirang. Korea – Fascination Hermit Kingdom which runs until July 15th, 2024 at the Museum für Asiatische Kunst and Ethnologisches Museum in the Humboldt Forum, 3rd floor.
Short biographies
Frank Böhme, born in 1963, studied education and music in Berlin and Leipzig. Professor of Non-European Music at the Hochschule für Musik und Theater Hamburg. Dean for interdisciplinary teaching and research. Main areas of work and research: Music and cultural history of Korea and Japan; in addition, interferences between music, art and science.
Cellist Seungyeon Baik graduated from the Korea National University of Arts with excellent grades. She is currently studying at the University of the Arts in Berlin. Seungyeon Baik studied with Jens Peter Maintz, Tsuyoshi Tsutsumi, Kangho Lee and Sunyee Chung. In 2019, she won first prize at the David Popper International Cello Competition in Hungary and second place at the Vienna Classic Strings International Competition in Austria. She will be an academy member of the NDR Elbphilharmonie Orchestra from September 2024.
Clarinettist Seonman Kim studied at the Korea National University of Arts, the Berlin University of the Arts, and completed his studies at the Dresden University of Music with a master class degree. He is currently principal clarinettist and concertmaster of the Saxony-Anhalt State Police Orchestra.
Soyoung Shin attended Seoul Arts High School and studied with Professor Eduard Gratch at the Tchaikovsky Conservatory. In Germany, she studied with Professor Mark Gothoni at the University of the Arts Berlin. She has won numerous competitions and has performed as a soloist in Europe, Asia, and the USA.
Dong Jin Lee completed his bachelor’s and master’s degree in piano performance at the Hanns Eisler School of Music Berlin under Professor Birgitta Wollenweber. He completed his second master’s degree in song composition for pianists at the Rostock University of Music and Drama in March 2024. In 2023, he was selected as a scholarship holder of the Richard Wagner Scholarship Foundation.
Soprano Soyeon Shin initially studied successfully at Seoul National University (Bachelor’s degree). She was then selected as a Young Artist of the Kumho Art Hall, where she organized a solo concert series. She then completed her Master’s degree in Opera and Lied at the Berlin University of the Arts with excellent results and is currently working as a professional singer.