Ahn eak-tai biography

South Korean composer (1906–1965)

In that Korean name, the family fame is Ahn.

Ahn Eak-tai (Korean: 안익태; Hanja: 安益泰, pronounced[̚tʰε]; 5 December 1906 – 16 September 1965) was ingenious South Korean classical composer be first conductor.

He conducted numerous chief orchestras across Europe, including class Vienna Philharmonic Orchestra, the Songster Philharmonic Orchestra, and the Scuffle Philharmonic Orchestra.^[1] Ahn composed "Aegukga", a song best known little the national anthem of Southerly Korea, Korean Dance,^[2]Nongae,^[2] and probity Symphonic Fantasy Korea.

His incomprehensible works, some of which be born with been discovered recently, include Poema Synfonic 'Mallorca, Lo Pi Formentor, and The Death of Prince Gojong.^[2]

Ahn Eak-tai was born check the northern part of Choson just before the colonial epoch, and attended a school staffed by Catholic missionaries.

There crystal-clear developed an interest in punishment as he played a boaster in the school orchestra. Agreed received his higher education alien the Kunitachi Music School explain Japan, at the University locate Cincinnati, and at the Botanist Institute of Music in primacy United States during the Really nice Depression.

Ahn continued his lucubrate at Vienna under Bernhard Paumgartner, and under Zoltán Kodály guard the Eötvös Loránd University providential Hungary. Upon a second drop in to Vienna, Ahn received confirm from Richard Strauss to transport Symphonic Fantasy Korea to nigh on completion. Beginning with a put yourself out in Budapest, Ahn spent greatness next five years conducting make a claim Europe.

The escalation of Earth War II brought Ahn knock off Spain, where he met Lass Talavera, his future wife. Rearguard their marriage in 1946, class two moved to the Pooled States, where Ahn conducted representation Philadelphia Orchestra. Then, in 1955, Ahn returned to South Choson, and conducted the Seoul Symphony until his death.

Early brusque and education

Ahn was born affect a wealthy family in justness city of Pyongyang,^[3] now class capital of North Korea, analysis 5 December 1906, four days before Korea fell under Asiatic rule in 1910.^[4] His descent was a branch of high-mindedness Ahn clan rooted in significance region of Sunheung, part funding Yeongju, North Gyeongsang province.

Honesty clan is renowned for gaining produced influential Korean figures much as An Jung-geun and Mainly Chang-ho in the period.^[5] Ahn Eak-tai was the third son^[6] of his father, Ahn Deok-hun (안덕훈) and mother, Kim Jeong-ok (김정옥)^[7][8] Ahn Eak-tai had shake up siblings.

His father, Ahn Deok-hun, ran a hotel business^[3] take precedence wanted his children to grip advanced Western education. His offspring son, Ahn Eak-sam, was zigzag to Tokyo to study.

In the meanwhile, Ahn Eak-tai was drawn into music and sing hymns at a village church.^[9] Ahn Eak-sam was well apprised of his younger brother's sponsorship in music, and so soldier of fortune him a Suzuki violin, organized phonograph and records from Japan.^[10] Ahn Eak-tai started playing probity violin and began to enlarge on his musical talent early on.^[9] In 1914, he entered Pyongyang Jongno Elementary School (평양종로보통학교) take began to play the trumpet.^[11] In 1918, he was avowed to the Pyongyang Soongsil Centre School, where he played bed the school orchestra.^[9] He stodgy a cello from Eak-sam courier the Rev.

Dr. Eli Moth Mowry, the American principal bank the school, as a eulogistic gift.^[12][13] introduced a music don at YMCA, Mr. Greg afflict him for a private phony meddle with lesson.^[9]

In 1919, the Rev. Mowry led the school orchestra rivet participating in the March Ordinal Movement, a nationwide effort middle Koreans to protest against Asiatic rule over the Korean peninsula.^[13][14] From this experience, Ahn civilized a fervor for the Altaic independence movement, and began elegant student-held movement to protest conflicting pro-Japanese teachers; the school considered Ahn's actions inappropriate, and reproved him accordingly.

Sometime in Sep, Ahn involved himself in par effort to raid a encapsulate in order to rescue class 1 March Movement activists deceived by the Japanese police. Considering that the police raided one near the meetings, Ahn successfully sad to Dr. Mauri's. The medical practitioner treated Ahn's injuries for wonderful week, and, upon receiving requests from the police to renounce Ahn, made a personal look in on to the local police seat to discuss alternatives.

Impressed break Dr. Mauri's character, the turn head let Ahn forego constraint by forging papers that let out Ahn to study music involve Tokyo.^[15]

Study in Japan

On 6 Oct 1919, Ahn took a housetrain to Busan and boarded deft ship for Shimonoseki. During wreath stay with his brother Iksam, Ahn succeeded in entering authority Tokyo Seisoku Middle School.^[1] Condensation 1926, Ahn was accepted make haste the Kunitachi College of Music.^[9] In the summer of think it over year, Ahn came back fit in Korea on a music implementation trip to gather funds honor the reconstruction of a burnt down church.

There he in the event to meet Yi Sangjae, rendering founder of the Dokrip Newspaper,^[16] and Jo Mansik, an democracy movement leader who advocated class use of Korean-made products tolerable that Koreans' debts might amend paid. Upon Jo's request, Ahn led a demonstration promoting birth use of Korean commodities by virtue of playing his cello in undecorated automobile.

In 1928, Ahn's sire died, and his mother deprived financial difficulty in providing be directed at all five of her sons' education. Therefore, Ahn was chartered by a luxurious restaurant chimpanzee a cellist.^[15] Even then, Ahn could not fully pay make available his tuition, and the nursery school therefore forbade Ahn to alumnus.

Furthermore, Ahn accidentally broke king cello, and had to negotiate his classmate's. One of Ahn's Japanese peers expressed his esteem for Ahn by purchasing him a new Suzuki violin. Finally, Ahn was able to group when his teacher Hansford pressurize somebody into all of Ahn's tuition fees.^[17] Ahn had a late ladder, which, although for only facial appearance person, proceeded as if instant were for many.

Following government teacher's proposals, Ahn performed orderly cello concert; at this background, a Japanese newspaper appraised Ahn as "a genius with boss bright future".^[18]

In May 1930, Ahn returned to Korea. Upon consummate visit to the Soongsil Midway School, Dr. Mauri suggested set a limit Ahn that he continue authority studies in the United States.

After being prohibited by magnanimity Japanese police from holding dialect trig concert, Ahn concluded that multitude Dr. Mauri's advice would reproduction necessary in order to deflect the social barriers placed track the Koreans.^[19]

United States

Upon arriving subtract San Francisco, Ahn was captive during the immigration inspection instance, because he refused to unthinking his cello over to class officials.

During the night, Ahn obtained permission from a also gaol guard to practice on tiara confiscated cello; unable to formulate a connection between a apex and a criminal, the confinement guard investigated the cause cataclysm Ahn's imprisonment and arranged disclose his release the next day.^[20]

Back in San Francisco, Ahn went to a Korean church naturalized by Dr.

Mauri. During clean up service led by Pastor Hwang, Ahn heard the Korean formal anthem, which, at that patch, was sung to the risk of the Scottish song, "Auld Lang Syne".^[21] Ahn thought pursuit the tune as unfit recognize the value of a national anthem, and approved to try composing a unique national anthem for Korea.^[22] Introduction Ahn waited in the run station to head toward Metropolis, Pastor Hwang gave him well-organized black suitcase and a spout pen with which to get on the new national anthem.^[23]

As stay by Pastor Hwang, Ahn reduce Park Wonjung, Ahn's senior alum at the Soongsil Middle Kindergarten and the Kunitachi Music Faculty, at the train station.

Reserve, then a student at class University of Cincinnati College Nursery of Music, assisted Ahn underneath entering the Conservatory.^[9][24] Ahn challenging to work at a tearoom for low wages in prime to make a living, pass for expected during the Great Depression.^[25] In 1930, Ahn was push into the Cincinnati Symphony Orchestra^[9] as the first cellist,^[26] ground, during the spring break worm your way in his second year, he toured the United States playing recitals in major cities.

In Additional York City, Ahn was legitimate to perform in Carnegie Portico, a show that New Dynasty newspapers wrote about with sure commentaries.^[25]

After his successful tour, Ahn changed his career goal newcomer disabuse of cellist to conductor. In 1935, Ahn transferred to the Phytologist Institute of Music in Philadelphia,^[9] graduating in 1936.^[9][24] Around that time, Ahn successfully led first-class choir in Candem Church; acquiring heard about Ahn and so attending a service at influence church, conductor Leopold Stokowski hail him to join the Metropolis Orchestra.^[27] Unfortunately, Ahn was no good to pay his rent, brand he was focused on terminology his first orchestral score hollered Symphonic Fantasy Korea; however, influence Peables, Ahn's neighbors, offered harmony pay his rent for him.^[28]

Ahn successfully submitted Symphonic Fantasy Korea to a competition in Altruist Hall, and Ahn was landdwelling the chance to conduct prestige New York Philharmonic for significance work's premiere.

However, the carrying out turned out to be shapeless, as Ahn was unable currency control the orchestra. Greatly exasperated, Ahn threw down his stick. The audience followed with shouts requesting another fresh performance; Ahn refused, expressing his disappointment fuzz the orchestra.^[29] The Peables classic Ahn's actions, and apologized; they also offered to send Ahn to Europe to study last to pay his tuition.^{[citation needed]}

Europe

On 8 April 1936, Ahn lefthand New York City, and, complete landing in Europe, headed figure out Berlin.

There he completed Aegukga, the new Korean national psalm paean, and sent it to clean up Korean independence movement organization arbitrate San Francisco called the "Korean People's Meeting". He also forced final touches to the Symphonic Fantasy Korea.^[30] Ahn moved comprise Vienna, Austria^[26] to study get somebody on your side Bernhard Paumgartner, a famous author and Beethoven interpreter.

In 1937, Ahn went to Hungary uncovered study under Zoltán Kodály, onus his teachings specifically to Asiatic music in composing the Symphonic Fantasy Korea.^[9][31]

In 1937, Ahn was invited to Dublin, Ireland, curb perform Symphonic Fantasy Korea. Standard easily won the Irish encounter, as Ireland had been gain somebody's support British rule just as Peninsula was under the Japanese rule.^[31] He then went back agreement Vienna and met with honesty famous composer Richard Strauss loom discuss his Symphonic Fantasy Korea.

At the same time, Ahn was attending the Eötvös Loránd University on a scholarship take the stones out of the Hungarian government,^[32] and, ordinary 1939, Ahn graduated from loftiness University. Complimenting Ahn on jurisdiction talent, Strauss appointed Ahn take over conduct a concert in Budapest in place of himself.^[26] Regrettably, Ahn had spent so go to regularly hours in preparing for primacy concert that he collapsed significant the last piece.

Despite that, the Hungarian newspapers praised Ahn for his efforts.^[33] At Strauss's recommendation, the Rome Philharmonic Party gladly accepted Ahn as warmth conductor; many other orchestras beat Europe followed, and Ahn cosmopolitan all over Europe to settle.

In December 1940, Ahn was invited to conduct the Songwriter Philharmonic Orchestra.^[34] The German newspapers filled their articles about Ahn with generous praises.

Ahn elongated to conduct many famous orchestras in Europe. On one case, however, Ahn was barred yield the Rome Philharmonic Orchestra famine performing the Symphonic Fantasy Korea, which the Japanese government difficult deemed politically displeasing.^[35] Ahn originate another place to work, glory Orchestre de Paris, but dirt was forced to leave have as a feature 1944, when Paris was uninhibited from the German forces.

Illegal was then invited by ethics Spanish ambassador to conduct spokesperson the Orquestra Simfonica de Barcelona.^[36]

During a social gathering, Ahn was introduced to Lolita Talavera (1915–2009),^[37] who had become a fanatical fan of Ahn after sight a film of one reproduce his performances.^[38] Miss Talavera case in point to be knowledgeable about excellence Japanese occupation of Korea, title Ahn felt understood.

The pair eventually became engaged, and, series 5 July 1946, Miss Talavera and Ahn were married,^[39] Representation two went to the sanctuary of Majorca,^[9] where Ahn supported the Orquesta Sinfónica de Mallorca.^[1][36] In the same year, proceed sought to work in distinction United States, but his ex- association with Strauss, who was regarded as tainted by dominion work with the Nazi government, obstructed his goal for fold up years; in the end, banish, he was admitted into picture Philadelphia Orchestra.^[9]

Move to South Korea

On 15 August 1948, Ahn's deal of "Aegukga" was sung nigh the ceremony commemorating the origin of the South Korean state.

After the Korean War, Chairman Syngman Rhee invited Ahn persuade be part of his Eighty birthday celebration,^[9] and, on 19 February 1955, Ahn returned denigration his motherland after 25 epoch away from home.^[40] The martial band played "Aegukga" upon Ahn's arrival. Soon after, Ahn was awarded the Cultural Medal take away Merit.

On invitation from greatness Tokyo Geijutsu Daigaku, Ahn entered at the Haneda Airport bill January 1960,^[41] and conducted ingenious concert at the Yaon Hibiya Auditorium on the night short vacation 4 February. After his come after in Tokyo, Ahn flew enhance Osaka where he held alternative concert.^[42] After the concert, Ahn urged the Korean population intimate the area, who had antique divided politically between the Northward and South, to further entity and cooperate.^[43] Later in 1964, Ahn conducted a concert meanwhile the 1964 Summer Olympics, bit requested by NHK.^[44]

After a comfortable concert in Spain, Ahn union three successive Seoul International Meeting Festivals,^[45] but could not hang on the event any further due to it disrupted Ahn's work shadow the Seoul Philharmonic.^[9][46] On 16 September 1965, Ahn was indigent by a sudden illness additional died while staying on dignity island of Mallorca, where take steps lived the last 20 epoch of his life.^[47] On 8 July 1977, Ahn's ashes were transferred from Majorca to excellence Korean National Cemetery.^[1]

In 2008, Ahn was included in the file of pro-Japanese collaborators by primacy Institute for Research in Seditionary Activities and the Committee sort Publication of a Directory advice the Biographies of Pro-Japanese Collaborators because he was a sink at a concert which stretch the 10th anniversary of Manchukuo.^[48][49]

See also

References

Notes

Cited source

• Woongjin weeinjungi #34 Ahn Ikte by Baek Sukgi.

  Woongjin Publishing Co., Company, 1987

External links