[Contents]

[Dedication]

[Commission]

Young-yun Kim

[Program Note]

Passacaglia per percussion is Ryu’s first successful work gained international attention. His musical language used in Passacaglia is later expanded and developed with compound contrapuntal technique of neo-baroque style and strong melodic tension in the Sinfonia da Requiem. The Passacaglia was occasioned by a commission from Youngyoon Kim, a percussionist and was premiered by him at the Audio Art Festival in Poland in 2002. Immediately it received a favorable review and was chosen as a requirement repertoire for entrance and graduation exam at universities in Europe. The Passacaglia adopted the way that the marimba presents a passage, and it is joined and built up acoustically by Vibraphone, Xylophone, and two sets of percussions like the troll.

The director of the Audio Arts Festival, Marek Choloniewski mentioned about the composition as follow: “The Passacaglia is an highly attractive piece. It is compelling that the work is precisely written with advanced counterpoint technique based on the solid structural stability. In this way, the Passacaglia surpasses the limitations of simplicity and predictability of work with the juxtaposition of extreme dynamic levels, the outstanding composition techniques, and the continuity of strong tensions.”

The Passacaglia is a barometer of performer’s technique and musicality, as it requires virtuosity and musical insight.

[Media]