| This dissertation provides information regarding the historical background and performance practice of Korean art songs, including the rules of Korean diction. It is clear that traditional Korean songs and Western-style Korean art songs are different. Here, the phrase “Korean art song” should be taken to mean modern art songs, rather than traditional. A primary purpose of this dissertation is to define the Modern Korean Art Song through research into the relevant literary and historical antecedents.; Moreover, as a professional singer, one needs to pay careful attention to diction when singing in a language other than one's own. Many languages, such as Italian, German, French, English, and Spanish, have already been analyzed in terms of the International Phonetic Alphabet for the use of professional singers. In the course of this study such an analysis will be extended to Korean.; Even though Korean singers frequently perform Korean art songs, not only in Korea but also abroad, research on the modern Korean art song is relatively rare because Western-trained Korean singers are more focused on the analysis of art songs in the major Western languages. This study will allow me to introduce a selection of Korean art songs to a wider public. As a soprano I've concentrated on three composers, Dong-Jin Kim, Heung-Yeol Lee and Isang Yun, because their songs are especially important in the soprano repertoire.; These days it is often possible to hear Western singers sing Korean songs beautifully onstage in Korea. This study is intended not only for Korean singers, but also for Western professionals. I hope that if non-Korean singers should choose to sing in Korean, my research will make it easier for them to get the information and understanding they need. |
