Young-ja Lee (composer) facts for kids

Young-ja Lee (Hangul: 이영자; born June 4, 1931) is a famous music teacher and composer from South Korea. Many people think she is the greatest living female composer from Korea.

The Story of Young-ja Lee

Young-ja Lee was born in Wonju, a city in South Korea. She loved music and studied at several top schools. First, she went to Ewha Womans University in Korea.

Then, she traveled to Europe to study even more. She attended the Conservatoire de Paris in France. After that, she studied at the Royal Conservatory of Brussels in Belgium. She also continued her education in the United States at the Manhattan School of Music.

Young-ja Lee faced many challenges when she was young. She lived through the Japanese occupation of Korea. This was a time when Japan controlled Korea. She also experienced the Korean War, a difficult conflict. Despite these hardships, she became a very important person in Korean music during the 1900s.

Her Role in Korean Music

Young-ja Lee helped start the Korean Society of Women Composers. This group was created to support women who write music. She was one of the six people who founded it. She also served as the very first president of this important organization.

Because of her big influence, people often call her the "Face and Mother of Korean Modern Music." This means she is seen as a leader and a key figure in how modern Korean music developed. Her musical pieces have been played all over the world. You can also find recordings of her amazing compositions.

Her Unique Musical Style

Young-ja Lee's music is very special. She mixes different sounds and styles from around the world. She uses ideas from French music. She also includes elements from West African music.

She even uses sounds inspired by Indonesian gamelan music. Gamelan is a traditional type of music from Indonesia, often played with percussion instruments. Of course, she also blends in traditional Korean music. This mix creates unique "intercultural compositions." These are pieces that combine cultures. She is well-known for mixing Western and Korean music in her own way.

What Music Did She Write?

Young-ja Lee has written many different kinds of music. Here are some of her selected works:

• Pelerinage de l’Ame for Violin, Cello, and Piano
• Trio for flute, clarinet and bassoon
• Variations for piano
• Lament for three kotos
• Six songs
• Réminiscences de la Proven