LAMORINDA WEEKLY | Unique Korean Ensemble to Play at SMC | St. Mary's College | SMC Moraga


Korean ensemble JUL Photo provided

"A living, breathing life form." This is how Martin Rokeach, composer and professor of music at Saint Mary's College describes the music of JUL, a Korean ensemble of three female musicians who play the gayageum, a traditional Korean instrument resembling a zither. The oldest of Korea's instruments, traditional gayageum music is still widely played.

Less common is the contemporary twist that JUL brings to its performances. With respective backgrounds in both traditional Korean music and modern composition, the members of the ensemble frequently commission new work to promote their vision of bringing new sound from an old instrument.

"They're very adventurous," said Jean Ahn, composer and faculty member at UC Berkeley. Ahn learned of JUL in 2012, when she met ensemble member Hyosung Jeong, who was a visiting scholar at UC Berkeley. Ahn and Jeong formed a connection.

Jeong grew interested in a Bay Area performance. It was a tall order to fly the trio to California, but it will be possible thanks to a grant from the Arts Council Korea. UC Berkeley invited JUL for a concert on Saturday, Sept. 13 at the Center for New Music, a place for local composers and musicians. It will be a portrait concert of Ahn's compositions.

JUL will also give a concert at Saint Mary's College the following Sunday. "We wanted to introduce them to a local community," said Ahn, who is an associate of Rokeach. When Rokeach learned of the opportunity to host such a unique ensemble he was very excited.

JUL will be playing four songs during their Sunday concert. Two will be traditional pieces and two more contemporary. One will be an original composition by Ahn. "The music I chose to be performed in Moraga is more accessible, more public friendly," said Ahn. "It is based on Korean popular songs, so it has a melody, something easy for people to understand."

"The tamber is beautiful and the melodies are seductive," said Rokeach. "We have lots of classical musicians who would be willing to come and perform, but this opportunity is really rare. We are really delighted to present this."

JUL, which is comprised of members Hyosung Jeong, Suhyoen Cho and Jinkyoung Kim, has given composer series concerts since 2011 and has two recordings of contemporary music. The Moraga concert will take place at 3 p.m. Sunday, Sept. 14 in the Soda Center and is free of charge.