S U N G J I H O N G
WIND ENSEMBLE
- Flamboyantly, work in progress, 13 mins, for wind ensemble
- Silence, 2025, 22 mins - for oboe and wind ensemble (oboe concerto)
Silence - Concerto for oboe and wind ensemble
2025, 22 mins
Instrumentation: Piccolo; 2 Flutes; 2 Oboes; English Horn; 2 Bassoons; Contrabassoon; Eb Clarinet; 3 Bb Clarinets; Bb Bass Clarinet; Bb Contrabass Clarinet; Bb Soprano Saxophone; Eb Alto Saxophone; Bb Tenor Saxophone; Eb Baritone Saxophone; 3 Bb Trumpets; 4 F Horns; 2 Tenor Trombones; Bass Trombone; Euphonium; Tuba; Contrabass (2 players preferred); harp (2 players preferred); Timpani (4 drums); Percussion 5-6 players.
The work is in two movements: Kumari and Tawaif. The first movement, Kumari, is inspired by the Living Goddess of Nepal, Kumari, and embarks on a deeply evocative musical journey. It begins with the oboe's quiet yet commanding entrance following a grand tutti chord, delicately portraying Kumari's ethereal presence and inner strength. Poetic imagery—such as eyelashes like a cow, thighs like a deer, and a voice as clear as a duck—evokes her divine beauty. As the movement progresses, the music intensifies, reflecting her transformation into the warrior goddess Durga. Amidst vibrant celebrations, the composition explores Kumari's poignant transition from divinity to humanity, culminating in a powerful confrontation marked by septuplets and thunderous double trills. The foundation of the Malahari scale, metaphorically termed a 'child scale' of Mayamalavagowla, is embedded within the music, connecting the theme with the life of a Kumari, a living child deity.
The second movement, Tawaif, draws inspiration from Raag Yaman to honor the cultural legacy of the tawaifs, known for their mastery of this raga.
The music adopts a dance-like, pulsating tempo, structured as a passacaglia, with its dynamic progression grounded in a repeating four-measure pattern. Orchestration using vibrant tones, reminiscent of multi-colored fireworks, intensifies the movement's energy. Fiery chords drive the harmonic progression, adding layers of depth and movement. The tawaifs' influence on modern Indian music, including Bollywood, is acknowledged through the incorporation of a melody from the song Nigahein Milane Ko Jee, sung by Nutan in the film Dil Hi To Hai (1963), a classic from the Golden Era of Bollywood cinema.
Silence, originally composed for oboe and symphony orchestra, is dedicated with admiration to oboe virtuoso Jung Choi. The concerto was revised and transcribed for oboe and wind ensemble between the fall of 2024 and early 2025. The world premiere of the wind ensemble version took place on March 20, 2025, performed by the University of North Texas Wind Orchestra under the direction of Andrew Trachsel at the Winspear Performance Hall in the Murchison Performing Arts Center, Denton, Texas.