Young-ja Lee (composer) facts for kids

Young-ja Lee (Hangul: 이영자) was born on June 4, 1931. She is a famous South Korean music teacher and composer. Many people believe she is one of the most important female Korean composers alive today.

Young-ja Lee's Life and Musical Journey

Young-ja Lee was born in Wonju, South Korea. She loved music and studied at several well-known schools around the world. She attended Ewha Womans University in Korea. Later, she traveled to Europe to study at the Conservatoire de Paris in France and the Royal Conservatory of Brussels in Belgium. She also studied in the United States at the Manhattan School of Music.

Lee faced many challenges during her early life, including difficult times in Korea during the 20th century. Despite these hardships, she became a very important person in Korean music.

Becoming a Leader in Music

Young-ja Lee helped start the Korean Society of Women Composers. She was one of the six people who founded this group, and she was also its very first president. This shows how much she cared about supporting other women in music.

People often call her the "Face and Mother of Korean Modern Music." This special title shows how much she has influenced music in Korea. Her musical pieces have been played all over the world, and you can find recordings of her work.

What Makes Her Music Special?

Young-ja Lee's music is unique because it mixes different styles. She combines sounds and ideas from French music, West African music, and Indonesian gamelan music. She also uses traditional Korean music in her compositions. This blend creates interesting "intercultural" pieces that bring different cultures together through sound. She is especially known for how she mixes Western and Korean musical styles.

Famous Musical Works

Young-ja Lee has composed many pieces. Here are some of her well-known works:

• Pelerinage de l’Ame (which means "Pilgrimage of the Soul") for Violin, Cello, and Piano
• Trio for flute, clarinet, and bassoon
• Variations for piano
• Lament for three kotos (a koto is a Japanese stringed instrument)
• Six songs
• Réminiscences de la Proven