The Korean traditional elements in Young-Jo Lee's choral works

As a Korean composer, Young-Jo Lee occupies one of the most important places in Korean musical history. His musical achievement and compositional techniques reflect his deserved remarkable acclaim and respect worldwide. He integrates Korean traditional resource and theoretical European techniques. His music creates new sound from different musical styles that also maintains its own musical integrity. Kyung, Wol Jung Myung, NongMoo, and Dohng-dohng are his representative choral works illustrating his compositional principles and techniques. Comprehensive analyses of those four choral works determines the style and principal features of Youg-Jo Lee's music and demonstrates how he integrates European techniques with Korean traditional resources. Furthermore, my interview with the composer examines his compositional background, ideas, and his spiritual identity with Korean music through his experience. Lee borrows Korean traditional sources, ornamentation, extended phrasing with wild vibrato, traditional Korean rhythm pattern while using traditional instruments. To reflect a sense of the contemporary, he borrows avant-garde techniques and features, tone cluster, argument chord, polychords, improvisation, and experimental ideas. With integration, Lee has carefully considered accessibility for the audience. Lee's choral works are high-quality repertories for choral conductors and new artistic achievement for musicologists and composers.