Lanpa Hong yong-hoo Introduction
- 蘭坡 洪永厚
- Lanpa Hong Yong-hoo
- 1889.3.19 ~ 1941.08.30
In the realm of modern music in Korea, Lanpa Hong was a pioneer in almost every respect. He was the first-ever violinist, chamber orchestra founder, music critic, music magazine publisher, and broadcasting orchestra conductor in the country. He also laid the foundation for elevating Korean creative music from chants to the level of art. His major works include ‘Garden Balsam(Bongsunga, originally Bongseonhwa)’ and ‘Spring Maiden(Bomcheonyeo)’ as well as children’s songs like ‘Springtime of Hometown(Gohyanguibom)’ and ‘Splash Splash(Pongdang Pongdang)’.
Blazes new trails for Korean violin music
In 1913, Lanpa Hong was admitted into the Department of Western Music of Korean Court Music Study Institute(Joseon Jeongak Jeonseupso), the country’s first specialized music school. He learned how to play violin from Kim In-sik, the first Western music teacher in the nation. He became a teacher at the school after his graduation in 1915. In 1918, he entered the Tokyo Music School. In 1922, he established the ‘Music Research Society(Yeonakhoe)’ for music education and dissemination in Korea. In 1924, he held the first violin recital in Korea. In 1926, he got into the Tokyo Conservatory of Music. In 1927, he was accepted as the first violinist in the Tokyo Symphony Orchestra. In 1931, he entered the Sherwood Conservatory of Music in the United States where he primarily studied violin while also researching into composition theory.
Making music echo the sentiments of the common people
In 1925, Lanpa Hong began publication of ‘Musical World’, the first music magazine in Korea. It widely disseminated and encouraged study of modern music in the country. He published ‘Famous Songs the Whole World Sings’ in 1926, the first and second volumes of ‘Collection of One Hundred Korean Children’s Songs’ from 1929 to 1933, and ‘Collection of Korean Popular Songs’ in 1933. He also left numerous violin solos such as ‘Korean Lament’, ‘Romance’, ‘Danse Orientale’, and ‘Summer Night’s Stars’, and he released new Korean folk songs including ‘Rusty Finger Ring’, ‘Amnok River’, and ‘Blue Sky with Promise’.
The Life of Lanpa Hong Yong-hoo
Lanpa Hong left a significant legacy to modern Korean music, ranging from composition, playing, conducting, critique, to education. Some of his songs such as ‘Garden Balsam’ and ‘Springtime of Hometown’ have been the Korean people’s favorites for a long time. Because he had written songs and articles exalting Japanese imperialism, however, he became embroiled in controversy. In light of the fact that he worked through one of the darkest periods of Korean history, a balanced perspective needs to be taken in assessing his life as a human being and as a musician.