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Me and the Tokyo International Forum

©K.Miura

MYUNG-WHUN CHUNG
Conductor

Maestro Myung-Whun Chung
Born in South Korea in 1953. After taking 2nd Prize in the Tchaikovsky Piano Competition, he studied conducting at the Juilliard School in New York. Served as Director of Music at the Paris Opera (Bastille) from 1989 to 1994, before becoming Resident Conductor of Rome's National Academy of Santa Cecilia Orchestra from 1997, and Musical Director of the Radio France Philharmonic Orchestra from 2000. In April 2001, he was appointed Special Artistic Advisor to the Tokyo Philharmonic Orchestra. His activities have won him the Legion d'honneur from the French government, while the government of South Korea awarded him its highest cultural decoration for his music environment activities for children. He was also awarded the Top Concert Performance Award by the Music Pen Club in fiscal 2001 for his work with the Tokyo Phil.

I want children to sense the power of real music by listening to the orchestra. I think this will lead to the "joy of discovery" and "courage for living".

On August 30th, "Discover Music with TPO - A Complete Experience for Kids" will be held in Hall A, with music from the Tokyo Philharmonic Orchestra conducted and directed by Myung-Whun Chung. "Teaching children about the wonder of music is an important role for a musician", says Mr. Chung. Apart from this concert, he also invites children to public rehearsals, and has organized "Outreach Activities", in which members of his orchestra visit elementary schools and perform live for the children. In these ways, he gives children the chance to come into contact with music. For this issue, we asked Mr. Chun for his thoughts on children and music.

Let children feel that "music is a magic word that opens doors to other worlds"

The "power of music" is something that goes beyond the ordinary. It's something that has to be experienced. It would be no exaggeration to say that "music is a magic word that opens doors to other worlds". Personally, when conducting the finale to Beethoven's 5th, for example, I feel that my soul has been liberated and is floating freely in the air.

And in this "Discover Music with TPO", too,I want children to hear music played live by an orchestra and feel this same sensation. I hope this will be a spark that will make them like music.

For "Discover Music with TPO", we have taken Beethoven's 5th Symphony "Destiny" as an important theme. As you may know, Beethoven himself wasn't afraid to challenge difficulties. Despite his genius, he would go through repeated trial and error, even 100 times, just to develop a single idea. And although he was unlucky in the affairs of the heart, he never gave up on love. He spent his life with the philosophy that "music has the power to liberate the human soul". That's why I felt it most apt that we should use Beethoven as the first composer for "Discover Music with TPO".

The concert itself features some well-known Japanese voice actors to help us open the door to "Destiny" in an enjoyable, easygoing way. We are also considering ways of highlighting the various instruments in the orchestra, like explaining a soccer formation.

I want children to sense the power of real music through this orchestral experience. For I think this will lead to the "joy of discovery" and "courage for living".

This program is more than a concert - it's a systematic approach. Between June and August members of our orchestra will be visiting elementary schools in the metropolitan region and performing for the children there. These are our "Outreach Activities". We also include a public rehearsal on August 28th, part of which is due to be shown on TV.

I want to convey the wonder of music to children through various experiences.

©K.Miura

Let me say a little more about our "Outreach Activities". This type of initiative, usually referred to as an "educational program", has recently been attracting interest in France, as well. In the Paris project, too, Beethoven's 5th is taken as a theme, and filming for a TV documentary has been underway since April.

The program shows how this symphony by Beethoven is perceived by children of differing ages, i.e. pre-school children, 5th graders, and 9th graders. It also introduces my own philosophy on music, my interpretation of Beethoven's 5th, and so on. But the aim of the program is only to help children relate to classical music, rather than teaching them anything or increasing the ranks of classical concert goers. And our "Discover Music with TPO" adopts the same kind of approach.

I hope that, through this kind of experiment, there will be more experiences through which people can feel the power of music.

When I became Musical Director of the Radio France Philharmonic Orchestra, and when I was appointed Special Artistic Advisor to the Tokyo Philharmonic Orchestra, one of my "contractual conditions" was that I could join forces with an orchestra to engage in such diffusion activities.

A social contribution for the future of children.

Children in South Korea are educated very strictly, as I believe they are in Japan. They are virtually "force-fed" with learning, and are only required (or able) to answer that "two plus two is four". I would like to see a world in which the same effort could be put into something more creative.

I believe that art has the power to nurture children's creativity. And we who are involved in music should always be in touch with society. Although musicians live 90% for music, their mission is to contribute to society with the remaining 10%. Because musicians, to a greater or lesser degree, have the ability to make social statements and influence society. I would like to use that ability for the future of children.

Good memories of Hall A at the Tokyo International Forum.

I still remember quite clearly the time when I first conducted the Asia Phil at the TIF's Opening Concert 5 years ago. I thought it was one of the best halls I'd seen in the 5,000-capacity class. But because it is so big, the conductor and his orchestra need an even stronger spirit to send their music out to every corner of the hall. I really hope people will feel this spirit during "Discover Music with TPO".

From the "Outreach Activities" for "Discover Music with TPO"
Members of the Tokyo Phil have been visiting elementary schools in the metropolitan region in groups of 4 or 5 and performing live for the children. As well as classical music, they also play songs from popular TV animations. In this way, the children are naturally drawn in to the world of music. They appear thoroughly engrossed in the live sound coming from the instruments, rather than listening to music through CDs or television. They experience music for themselves, with their eyes, ears and minds, learning what sound is made by what instrument, and how a melody is created. Expectations of "Discover Music with TPO" on August 30th are even higher now.
All grades at the Tokyo Korean Elementary School	All grades at the Dai-Ni Hino Elementary School	Elementary school 4th graders at Keio Infants School
Here, a woodwind quintet gave a recital. The children were told the names of the instruments, and they asked some probing questions. An enjoyable time was had by all. Finally, the children joined the quintet on their recorders in a grand concerto.	A recital for violin, viola and cello was given here. One child was allowed to play on a miniature violin brought in by the orchestra members, and received a warm ovation. At the end, everyone sang together.	A wind quintet recital was given here. The children clapped in time to the up-tempo tunes, and sang along to their favorite animation songs. They all looked very lively during the singalong of the "Doh-Ray-Mi" song and the rhythm games.

©K.Miura

To send your music out to every corner of Hall A, you need a strength of spirit. I hope people will feel this during "Discover Music with TPO".