Requiem for wandering souls for orchestra

The integration of diverse cultural influences in music composition has been a defining feature of the 20th century, particularly in the works of East Asian composers who, after studying or living in the U.S. or Europe, sought to reconnect with their cultural roots. Composers such as Chou Wen-Chung, influenced by Edgard Varèse; Takemitsu, shaped by John Cage; and Isang Yun, guided by Boris Blacher, exemplify this intercultural synthesis. However, the blending of cultures is not a new phenomenon exclusive to the 20th and 21st centuries. The music of Wolfgang Amadeus Mozart, for example, offers an 18th-century instance of cultural fusion, as he drew on Italian, German, and operatic styles to create a unique musical identity that transcended national boundaries. Requiem for Wandering Souls explores intercultural synthesis by merging traditional Korean ritual music with contemporary orchestral idioms. Inspired by Jongmyo Jeryeak and secular ritual textures, the work integrates Korea’s rhythmic and timbral heritage into a modern symphonic framework. By bridging Eastern and Western traditions, Requiem for Wandering Souls contributes to the evolving discourse on intercultural composition and offers a new perspective on crosscultural dialogue in contemporary music.

Name thesis:degree_name

D.M.A. (Doctor of Musical Arts)

Level thesis:degree_level

Doctoral

Discipline thesis:degree_discipline

Music Composition

Grantor dc:publisher

University of Missouri--Kansas City

Year dc:date.issued

2025

Author dc:creator

• Chung, Ian Yeonchan

Advisor dc:contributor.advisor

• Chen, Yi, 1953-

Language dc:language.iso

en

Handle dc:identifier.uri

https://hdl.handle.net/10355/109222

OAI identifier oai:identifier

oai:mospace.umsystem.edu:10355/109222