Reflections – Yukyeong Ji

   in Piano International (Sep, 2018)
A fascinating concept album: South Korean Yukeyong Ji’s offering explores the concept of meditation, reflection and therefore mirrors. The Drei Klavierstücke by Berthold Hummel (1925-2002) is his homage to (‘reflection of’) Alban Berg. Elliptical, mysterious, this is fascinatingly internal music unfettered by tonality. The Seoul-born composer Uzong Choe is represented by two Préludes, the second entitled ‘Le Miroir dans l’eau’ and based on a Korean pop song, the first based on a motet by Lassus. Fragile counterpoint meets chattering staccato, a foil perhaps for Takemitsu’s blissfully elusive Far Away. The Ravel is a massively colourful ‘Alborada’. Proceedings draw to a close with Messiaen’s monumental moto perpetuo ‘Par Lui tout a été …