Y. S. Kim's

Musical Autobiography

However, I was always anxious to add an acoustic dimension to my webpages. I think I can do this using my music resources. I do not know how to play any musical instruments, but I have been a diligent listener since my childhood. If I list songs and orchestral pieces in this page, you will like some of them, and you will think about your own past. This is how I intend to communicate with you.

I spent the first eleven years of my life in a farming village, with a cotton-picking experience. This photo was produced in Paris (2010) with cotton samples from Israel. The state of Israel did not exist at that time. Sound-reproducing technologies have gone through some evolutions since then.

My listening devices started with spring-driven 78rpm record players. How did they work?

• Hand-cranked 78rpm device. You have to crank a handle to store energy into a winding spring.

• Motor-driven 78rpm with electronic amplifier. This device was used until 1950, but some people continued using it until 1970.
• Elvis Presley used this device until late 1960s.

• 33rpm "long playing" recording was developed during World War II, but was not available to consumers until after 1945. This technology lasted until CD technology was developed in the late 70s. I still have about 100 33rpm disks, and play some some of them for research purposes.
• 45rpm Recordings were wiedely used in music boxes. Bettles sing "I want to hold your hand."

When I was a Child

This is a photo of two Japanese children going to school in the morning (1996). I used to look like them when I was a child (top). I was forced to worship the imperial palace and its double bridge. It was a pleasure for me to be at this once-holy place in 1996.

• Songs for Children.
  1. Momotaro San.
  2. Haru-ga Kita. Spring has come.
  3. Gigen Setzu
  4. Haru-no Ogawa. Spring Brook.
  5. Kookoo Waltz. Cuckoo and Nightingale.

  6. Hana (Flowers).
  7. Minado (Harbor).
  8. Umi (Sea).
  9. Canaria. Uta-o Wasreta canaria-wa?
  10. Nanazu-no Ko. Karas naze nakuno ---.
  11. Hodaru-no Hikari. Graduation song.

• Songs for All Ages (popular among children).
  1. Oboro Tsuki-yo (night with hazy moonlight>
  2. Nogi and Stessel at the conclusion of the Russo-Japanse war (1905).
  3. Kojo-no Tsuki. "Haru Koro No --- " (moon upon old castle).

• Japan was staging a war against China and started the Pacific war against the United States. We heard and sang many military songs.
  1. Gunkan March with modern Japanese fleet. Along with Germany's Alte Kameraden, this navy music is one of the most popular military marches.
     • Gunkan March with Admiral Yamamoto Isoroku and naval ceremony.
     • Gunkan March. with General Yamashida Tomoyuki and the Malaya-Singapore battle scenes.
  2. Week without Weekend. Fleet duty for sea men.
  3. Pray for the Country, when soldiers leave for the battle.

  4. Japanese Army March. Departure for battle, intelligence gathering, engineering, artillery, and infantry.
  5. "I love my Horse" March. Very popular song among children.
  6. Song of Young Japanese. This song, with different text in Korean, was used for one of the songs by the Korean army at its initial stage (1946-50). The Korean army started with those Koreans who served in the old Japanese army.
  7. We are Comrades. This song was also converted into one of the songs of the Korean army, but Koreans do not like this kind of Japanese influence, even though they like Japanese songs.

     

  8. Student Mobilization. In 1943, the Japanese government decided to convert all Japanese students to soldiers. I was a child at that time. During the Korean war (1950-53), I was in high school, but not old enough to be drafted, but I went through military training while studying. In 1954, I was lucky enough to have this glamourous photo with General Maxwell Taylor, the commander of the U.S. Forces in Korea. Under him were more than 300,000 combat-ready American soldiers. My school uniform looks like those of Japanese students seen in this video.
  9. Blood is Burning. Patriotic song for student volunteers.
  10. Yokaren no Uta for young navy pilots. Korean boys used to sing this song with obscene wordings.

  11. Infantry Mission. This tune was copied by Korean communists (in both South and North) in 1946 and 1947 for their Mayday song. The communist party was then banned in the South, and the North invented their own communist songs or copied from the Soviet Union.
  12. Field Encampment Song
  13. Father! You were Strong. Mother tells her son his deceased father was strong. The father was killed in action.

  Photo from Wikipedia I learned how Type 38 of the Arisaka rifle works in 1945. I was trained to operate Type 99 of this Japanese infantry rifle in 1951 during the Korean war. A well-designed machine!

• The Japanese military education was complete and thorough. I learned how to operate their Arisaka Type 38 infantry rile, without live ammunition, when I was 10 years old. Let us see how the rifle works.
  1. Arisaka Type 38 with 6.5mm ammunition. This machine was introduced in 1905 and used by Japanese troops during the Russo-Japanese war and during the early phase of the Sino-Japanese war.
  2. Arisaka Type 99 with 7.7mm ammo was introduced in 1939. Japanese soldiers fought with these rifles during World War II. I was trained to operate this rifle during the period January-July of 1951, while my middle school in Seoul was occupied by communist troops, and I was enrolled at another school in a southern city of Chinhae. I indeed went though an excellent military training during my childhood.
  3. More about WWII rifles.

  Japan was constructing the world biggest battle ship called Yamato at that time. I was forced to believe Japan was an invincible country with this battle ship.

• There were also many patriotic songs calling for the dedication to their country.
  1. Umi Yukaba was a very important song during the Pacific War.
     • 1943 Scene.
  2. Patriotic March. This song was not popular, but Japanese authorities forced every Korean student to sing. They did the same thing in Japanese-occupied territories in South-East Asia during the Pacific war.
  3. Sending Soldiers Away to battle fields.
  4. Patriotic Flowers. Patriotic song for Japanese women.
     • Another Version.
  5. 2600th Anniversary Song. Japan became 2600 years old in 1940.
  6. Time for Decisive Battle. Japanese thought they were staging decisive battles against Western invaders.

  

• I was not old enough to sing the following songs, but many grown-ups loved to sing.
  1. Kohan no Yado. This Japanese song was introduced by Takamine Mieko in 1940. Ms. Takamine continued singing this song until 1986, for more than 45 years! She dies in 1990. This song was very popular among Japanese soldiers during World War II. It was also peninsular among Koreans. I still like this song.
  2. In 1977. She talks about her tours to battle fields during World War II.
  3. In 1983. In her later year.
  4. In 1986, shortly before she died. This song is still popular in Japan.

• There was another legendary female singer known to Koreans. She was was very active in China as an actress, and sang a song entitled "Shina-no Yoru." She was known as Li Xiangran in China, and as Lee Hyang Ran to Koreans. During the years 1940-45, many Koreans thought she was a Korean girl because her name was typically Korean.
  1. Shina no Yoru (1940).
     • with Movie Scenes (1940).
     • in her later year.
  2. Red Lotus. Another song by Li Xiangran (Lee Hyang Ran).
  3. Three songs from her films.

  4. Autobiography -- [part 2] -- [part 3] -- [part 4]

  5. After 1945, she went back to Japan and has been very ative and creative.

• Other Japanese Popular Songs

  Click her for a close-up view of the Yasukuni shrine.

  1. Kudan-no Haha (mother sings.) This is a wartime song about a mother waiting for her son coming back in a ash box from the battle front. She is happy not because her son is dead, but because he is to be enshrined at the Yasukuni Shrine in Tokyo's Kudan district.
     • Her son sings, by Shio Masaru (1939). He is to be enshrined. This was the highest honor Japanese boys can achieve at that time. He came back to Japan's Ueno railroad station, and goes to Kudan in an triumphal procession.
     • Her enshrined son came back and sings the same song in 1971.
     • He comes back every year (1972).
     • Her son sings again in 1990, 51 years after his first recording.

     • Misora Hibari sings the same song (1977). She sings in her later year.
     • Another Female Voice.
     I used to like this song when I was a child, without understanding its meaning. In 1996, when I was in Tokyo, I took a taxi from the Ueno railroad station to my hotel in the Kudan district. The taxi driver was old enough to remeber this song. We noted that we were going there in an air-conditioned car, not not is an ash box.

  2. Manshu Musume.
     • Another Version. Easy to sing, very popular.
  3. Here is another funny song. It is about military life. This song with Korean wording remained popular among Koreans for many years after Japanese left in 1945.
     • Another version with photos.

• How about Korean Songs. Yes, at our churches.

• After Japanese left Korea in 1945, I continued loving military music. Here are some old German marches which existed before Hitler came to power. They were OK from the the American point of view.
  1. Alte Kameraden from Germany.
     • Heino sings Alte Kameraden.
  2. Under the double-headed Eagle (Austrian March).
  3. Koenigfratzer March.
  4. Kaiser Wilhelm II March.
  5. Des Grossen Kurfursten Reitermarsch.
  6. Hoch- & Deutschmeistermarsch.

• During the final years of my elementary school, I started to see music can be beautiful.
  1. Over the Waves, as I heard from a 78rpm disc in 1948. My female classmates danced to this music. A photo of their dancing is shown in this photo.
     • Accordion Music.
     • Over the waves with mail voice.
  2. Danube Waves. They also danced to this waltz. For the first time, I realized girls can be beautiful. Before this, I thought girls are only stupid.
     • Danube Waves. Another version.
  3. Skater's Waltz.
  4. Gold and Silver Waltz.
  5. Estudiantina

• How about Johann Strauss? I was not able to appreciate his waltzes until after 1950.

• We sang the following songs.
  1. Stenka Razin. Russian Kosak song.
     • Stenka Razin. Another version.
  2. Volga Boatman. Another Russian song.
  3. Home Sweet Home. English song with Korean words.

• From the Korean Radio.
  1. Moon Light Sonata (Beethoven) was the theme music for the "Evening Music" program.
  2. Adios Mariquita Linda was used as the theme music for KBS's program for Latin American music at 1:00 PM. KBS means the Korean Broadcasting Sytem.
  3. Soldiers Chorus from Faust. I also heard this after the late news program.

• Click here for my childhood story.

The main building of my high school before the destruction during the Korean war (1950-53).

John Philip Sousa.

I like band music, and I marched with these Hungarian students in Pecci, Hungary (2002). They were playing the marches I used hear from my own high school band.

• At the entrance ceremony, the school chorus welcomed my class by singing the following two choruses.
  1. Faust Waltz from an opera scene.
     • Street Organ.
  2. Soldiers' Chorus by the Uni. de Conception Chorus.
     • from the Opera Scene containing this chorus (Vienna Opera).

• The school band played many orchestral pieces. Among them were
  1. Poet and Peasant by Franz von Suppe.
  2. Zampa Overture by Louis Harold.

• Korea was under American influence then, and my high school band played a set of Sousa marches.
  1. Thunderer.
  2. El Captain.
  3. King Cotton.
  4. Washington Post March.
  5. Colonel Bogey March. This is a British march, played in the Bridge on the River Kwai. This is often called the River Kwai march.
  6. Alte Kameraden. Classic German march.

  7. Proschanie Slavianki is a Russian military march. My high school band played a historical role by playing this Red Army music in a staunchly anti-communist country. Click here for details.

• I still like to hear band music.
  1. U.S. Marine Hymn. I have no recollection of hearing this all-American march from my school band, but I heard this from the U.S. Army broadcasting station in Korea.
  2. Semper Fidelis. Another marine music.
  3. American Patrol March.
  4. Cavalry March.
  5. Hands across the Sea. Another Sousa march with his portrait.
  6. Fairest of the Fair. The title of this Sousa march has a complicated story, but is called "Beauty among the Beauty" in Korea and also in Japan. This mixed-up title seems to be consistent with the music.
  7. Dixie's Land. Confederate Anthem. Abraham Lincoln liked this anthem and ecnouraged all Americans to sing this song after the Civil War.
  8. To Arms in Dixie. American Confederate Song.

  Kim Koo was the president of the Korean provisional government in Shanghai while the country under Japanese occupation.

• In addition, I liked the following songs during my middle school period.
  1. Chopin's Funeral March was played by the combined army/navy band and the combined high high school band in Kim Koo's funeral procession in 1949. Kim Koo was the head of Korea's provisional government in Shanghai while the country was occupied by Japan until 1945.
     Original Piano Version.

  2. Habanera. In 1949, I watched a black-white movie with this song.
  3. Besame Mucho was introduced by Hyun In in 1947, but Koreans did not like it until 1950. It became very popular during and after the Korean war. Dean Martin reproduces the song.

  4. O Sole Mio reproduced by Beniamino Gigli.
     • O Sole Mio by Luciano Pavaratti.
  5. Santa Lucia. Let us ask Elvis Presley to sing for us.
     • Santa Lucia, by Enrico Caruso.
     • Santa Lucia, by Mario Lanza.
  6. Come back to Sorrento.
     • Luciano Pavaratti sings.
     • Mario Lanza sings.

Alas, the Korean war broke out in 1950.

We had to move to Korea's southern port of Busan, where I was able to pick up Japanese radio signals. It was possible to hear the NHK programs from its local station in Fukuoka, but I was able to listen to Tokyo using my short wave radio which

• It was refershing to hear Japanese songs not oriented to war effort (before 1945)
  1. Post-war Japanese Songs.
  2. Post-war Songs produced by original singers.

  Li Xiangran's father was a high-ranking official for the South Manhurian Railway Company, owned and operated by Japanese before 1945.

  Li Xiangran was 20 years old when she starred in a Manchurian film "Sion-no-Kane."

• Li Xiangran was born in 1920 to a Japanese family in Manchu. Her real name was and still is Yamaguchi Yoshiko, but she was called "Li Xiangran" by her father's Chinese friends. When she was a teenager, she was picked up by a Japanese film company called "Man-Ei" (Manshu Eiga), her company name was Li Xiangran. The Man-Ei was of course an important propaganda machine for Japanese imperialists. She then acted as a Chinese girl deeply in love with a Japanese soldier in every movie where she appeared. In one of her movies, she sang
  1. Ho Ri Jiung Jae Lai (When are you going to come back?). She sang in 1939. This song is still popular among all Chinese men and women throughout the world.
     • Her Recording.
     • Teresa Teng was one of the most popular singers during the period 1970-95. She spoke Chinese, Japanese, and English fluently. She learned this song from he Chinese parents, but found out later who the original singer was. Li Xingran was Teresa's idol.
  2. Shina-no Yoru (China Night). After this song in 1940, her name became Ms. Shina-no Yoru.
     • Watanabe Hamako claims she sand this song in 1938, two years before 1940. This recording could prove her claim. She was nine year older than Li Xiangran and a well-established singer in Tokyo. It then appears that Li's 1940 movie made this song to explode.
     • Chinese Singer. This song was of course popular among Chinese.
  3. Akai Shuiren (red lotus). Another China-based song, used to be very polular in China, Korea, as well as in Japan.
     • with a Chinese Singer.

  4. Autobiography -- [part 2] -- [part 3] -- [part 4]

  She was in Shanghai when the war ended in August of 1945, and she was arrested by Chinese authorities for her pro-Japanese activities. After they found out she was a Japanese, they released her. When she came back to Japan in 1946, She was 26 years old. As a singer, an actress, and a congress woman, Yamaguchi Yoshiko served her country well.

  I was at the theatre in Shanghai (2011) where Li Xiangran used to sing until 1945. This theatre changed its name severl times according to Shanghai's political climate. It is now called the Paramount Theatre.

  1. Yea Lai Xiang (Night Fragrance). Yamaguchi sang this Chinese song in Shanghai two-months before the end of the war. She came back to Japan in 1946, and started her singing career in Japan with this song.
  2. Ye Lai Xiang in Japanese.
     • Teresa Teng singing in Chinese. in Japanese.
     • Another Chinese Singer. From the Chinese point of view, Ye Lai Xiang is a Chinese song. It is even true. Its composer was a Chinese.
     • 1958. Let us hear Yamaguchi's own Le lai Xiang again.
     • 1945 Scene in Shanghai reproduced by a younger Japanese singer named Sawaguchi Yasuko (1989).
  3. Hamabe-no Uta. Very traditional Japanese song introduced in 1883. She sang in 1941 to prove she is Japanese while pretending to be a Chinese girl in love with Japanese soldiers.
  4. New Night. She sings in Russian to Russian audience in Manchuria. During World War II, Japan and Russia had a non-agression pact, and there were Russian communities in Manchuria. Li Xingran was also popular among those Russians.
  5. Good Old Tango. Yamaguchi sings a tango song (1949).
  6. Three songs from her films.

• Watanabe Hamako was nine years older than Li Xingran, and was an established singer in Japan. During the war, she extensively travelled around in Asia to entertain Japanese soldiers.
  1. Umi Yukaba was a very important song during the Pacific War. She was the female singer in this recording.
  2. Sending Soldiers Away. She was also the female singer here.

  3. Itoshi Ano Hoshi (1939).
     • Male Voice.
     • Chinese Singer sings.
  4. Patriotic Flowers. This is one of her wartime songs, very popular among Japanese soldiers serving in front lines.
     • After the war, she continued singing this song.

  5. Bengowan Solo.

  San Francisco's China Town, photo by Daniel Schwen (2006).

• San Francisco-no Chinatown. After the war, she travelled to San Francisco (1946) and was inspired to sing this song (1950). She was an impulsie traveller. I used to hear singing very often in Korea.
  1. Her Original Recording. I used to hear this song during the Korean War period (1950-53) on my shortwave radio.
  2. with the scenes of the Chinatown.
  3. 1971, 21 years later.
  4. 1973.
  5. 1978. She indeed loved to sing this song. I used to hear her song in 1952 from Korea.

• Shina-no Yoru. Watanabe Hamako sang this song in 1938, two years before Li Xiangran's movie song (1940).
  1. 1939.
  2. In China during the war.
• Ye Lai Xiang was also one of her favorite songs throughout her life. She picked up this Chinese song while travelling in China 1944, and introduced it to Japan in the same year. Rhis song became popular among Chinese and Japanese after Li Xingran's stage appearance in June of 1944.

• There was another Japanese singer I liked and still like very much. Her name is Futaba Akiko.
  1. Mizu Iro (sky blue) Waltz. She introduced this song in 1950.
     • in her later year in 1990, 40 years later.
     • by Kim Yonja (Korean singer) and Mizumori Kaori.

  2. Platform of the Night.
     • by Mizumori Kaori.

  3. Sayonara Rumba introduced in 1948.
     • Akiko sings in 1970.
     • She sings in 1983.
  4. Night Platform by Futaba Akiko (1971).

  5. Paris Night.
  6. Francesca's Bell.

  7. Girl 19 Years Old, She was 22 years old in 1937.
  8. Patriotic March (1937). She was one of the main singers in the chorus.
  9. Song with her Photo. She was 23 years old in 1938.
  10. Heartless Flower (1940).

• Fujiyama Ichiro was a male singer. He produced many recordings before and after the war. His is famous for his Nagasaki-no Kane.
  1. Songs about Blue Sky. He started his singing carrier by singing these easy songs (1934). This recording was made in 1950.

     

  2. War-time Patriotic March, with his colleagues.
  3. Asia is Rising. Japanese once thought Asia would become one country under Japan.
  4. 2600-th Anniversary. Japan became 2,600 years old in 1940. This is a recording of the commemorative song. Among the leading singers are Fujimura Ichiro, Watanabe Hamsko, and Futaba Akiko. I am very happy to be able mention them in this website.

  5. The Bells of Nagasaki by Fujiyama Ichiro (1949).
     • with Photos.
     • Female Voice by Shimazu Aya.

     There is a book entitled "Nagasaki-no Kane." I have not read it, but I can guess what is in the book. The story could be about a Japanese soldier comining back to his hometown, Nagasaki, after the war which ended with the second nuclear bomb on Nagasaki. Alas, everything is gone, and his wife is gone. As for those Japanese singers, they had to sing war during the war time, and sing peace during the peace time. After all, they are artists. Their job is to make people happy.

• Classic Japanese songs. There are many beautiful Japanese songs written during the Meiji and Taisho periods (1867-1925). I can list some of them here, and I hope to add many more in the future.

  This is my photo with the hostesses of the All Nippon Airways in 2009. These young ladies never heard of the singers mentioned in this webpage, except Misora Hibari. To them, Hibari was also a "Mukashino Jinbutzu" (person of the past generation). However, they should be able to sing these classic Japanese songs. They were very kind and courteous to me not because I am attractive them, but because I am as old as their Ojeesans (grandfather). Alas, I am an old man.

  1. Koujo-no Tsuki introduced in 1901. Let us ask Fujiyama Ichiro to sing for us.
     • Koujo-no Tsuki by a young singer.
     • Female Voice.
     • Violin and Male Voice.

  2. Hamabe-no Uta by Yamaguchi Yoshiko while in China with her Chinese name Li Xiangran.
     • Tokyo Broadcasting Chorus
     • Baisho Chieko sings.
     • Suzuki Norie. Younger Japanese singer.

  3. Oboro Tsuki-yo by Baishio Chieko.
     • Another Version.
     • with Photos of Japanese (1925-30).
     • Chorus Version.

  4. Hana (Flower)
     • Piano and Flute.
     • Young Voice.
     • Children's Chorus.

  5. Hodaru-no Hikari, originally from Ireland. Its title is Auld Lang Syne. Japanese love this song. On December 31 of every year, NHK holds a song party called "Kohaku." This party consists of Japan's best singers. At the end of this party, everybody sings this song, and the entire nation sings.

• After the disastrous end of the Pacific war in 1945, Japanese were thorougly depressed. They were not allowed to sing their national anthem at public places. Their NHK network was not allowed to broadcast the anthem.

• Misora Hibari before 1950.
  1. Misora Hibari (1950-52) Volume 1.
  2. Misora Hibari (1950-52) Volume 2.
  3. Misora Hibari (1950-52) Volume 3.

  4. Ringo Oiwake.
     1. When she was 15 years old. (1952).
     2. A Girl from Ringo (Apple) Orchad.

  5. Ryoma Zanei. Typical Japanese song.
  6. Yawara (1977) . It is great to live
     • Yawara (1968).
     • Yawara (1965).
  7. Ai Sansan. Hymn of love.
  8. Kurumaya San.

  9. Hibari Medley at NHK's Kohaku song party (to celebrate the end of 1979).
  10. Furusatowa-wa Itsumo (hometown always or family origin always).
  11. Kawa-no Nagareno Yoni was her last hit song.
      • Kim Yonja is a Korean singer active in Japan. She likes to sing Hibari songs.
      • Teresa Teng (1953-95) was a very popular Chinese singer. She sang many Japanese songs. How can she miss this song?

  12. Kudan no Haha (wartime song). Hibari sings for Japanese women whose sons came back from battlefields came back in ash boxes. She sings in her later year.
  13. Hibari sings a Korean Song.
  14. Soshyu Yakyoku. Li Xingran sang this song in 1940 while she was a rsing star in China. She sang of course in Chinese.

  15. Tribute to Misora Hibari (2000). Koreans felt very close to this legendary singer, because one of her grandfathers came from Korea.
  16. Hibari's Last Interview.

• April 1952. Japan's NHK resumed broadcasting of the national anthem after Japan concluded a peace treaty with the United States in San Francisco. I stayed late in the night tuned to NHK to check whether NHK would air the Japanese national anthem. They did.

Let us reproduce those songs I used to hear in Korea. The artists are different, but the songs are the same.

• La Paloma by Anacani, from the Lawrence Welk show (1977).
  1. Adios Mariquita Linda.
  2. Cielito Lindo.
     • Cielito Lindo. Luciano Pavarotti sings.
  3. Secret Love.
  4. Love me with all your Heart!
  5. Amapola.
     • Amapola by Deana Durbin.
  6. Perfidia.
  7. Sweet and gentle cha cha.avi.
  8. Spanish Harlem.
  9. Spanish Eyes.
     • Spanish Eyes. Elvis Presley sings.
  10. Besame Mucho, very popular among Japanese. It was also a popular item among Koreans during the war years (1950-53).
      • Besame Mucho, by Placido Domingo.

• Siboney is a rumba from Cuba.
  1. Lucy Prevedo, Cuban soprano.
  2. Placido Domingo.
  3. Ye Lai Xiang. Chinese/Japanese rumba.
  4. Passionate Rumba, Japanese Rumba.
  5. Passionate Rumba. Takamine Mieko sings.
  6. Sayonara Rumba, by Futaba Akiko (introduced in 1948).
     • Futaba Akiko sings in 1970.
     • Rose Rumba and Night Platform by Futaba Akiko (1986).

• La Cumparsita. Still very popular around the world.
  1. La Cumparsita is originally from Uruguay.
  2. Blue Tango.
  3. Jealousy Tango.
  4. l'Smour c'est Pour Rien. Kishi Yoko sings.
  5. Good Old Tango. Yamaguchi Yoshiko (Li Xiangran) sings a tango song.

  6. Tico Tico.
  7. Spanish Gypsy Dance.

• French Flavers
  1. L'hymne a l'amour. Edith Piaf sings.
     • Hymne a l'amour. Misora Hibari sings.
     • Kishi Yoko sings Hymne a l'amour. Ms. Kishi started out as a soprano singer, but her heart was not strong enough. Thus, she started singing French chansons. She is three years older than Hibari. I like her songs.
  2. Sous le Ciel de Paris. Yves Montand and Edith Piaf.
     • Under the Paris Sky. Yuji Watari sings.
  3. Can Can from Gaite Parisienne.
  4. Ginza KanKan Musume. Can Can girls of Ginza. This song was popular among American soldiers in Tokyo during the post-war period (after 1945).

  

• Here are some German folk songs and dance songs I used to pick up from NHK. Japan was very close to Germany until 1945.
  1. Rosa Munde, Bohemian polka.
  2. Chicken Dance.
     • Chiken Dance by Children.
  3. Bohemian Forest.
  4. Munti Polka.
  5. Bohmerwald.
  6. Oktoberfest Song.

• In addition to those popular songs, I heard many other programs from NHK. During this process, I systematically developed my sophistication in music listening. I started with Johann Strauss.

  Johann Strauss Jr in Vienna.

  1. Johann Strauss.
     • Voice of Spring.
     • Vienna Waltz.
     • Treasure Waltz.
     • Artist's Life.
     • Roses from the South.
     • Wine, Woman, Song.
     • Morgenblatter (Morning Journals).
     • Blue Danube.

     • Gypsy Baron Overture.
     • Radetsky March.
     • Anna's Polka.
     • Pizzicato Polka.
     • Tritsch Tratsch Polka.

  2. On December 31, 1952, NHK aired a complete version of Die Fledermaus by Johann Strauss. The title in Japanese was Ko-omorino Uta. Let us hear some pieces from this operetta.
     • Overture.
     • Laughing Song.
     • Hungary, My Beautiful Homeland.

     Mariinsky Theatre in St. Petersburg.

  3. During the Christmas week of 1952, NHK aired Tchaikovsky's Nutcracker. It consisted of music and narration, without pictures (no TV at that time). The Mariinsky (Kirov) Ballet Theater of St. Petersburg will reproduce some of the Nutcracker dances for us.
     • Dance of Snow Flakes.
     • Spanish Dance.
     • Russian Cossack Dance.
     • Chinese Dance.
     • Arabian Dance.
     • Dance of Mirlitons (French Dance).
     • Dance of Flowers.

• Koreans picked up many popular songs from this American radio station. They also learned English. Indeed, it was an important English-teaching tool for me.

  American artillery men are loading their 105mm howitzer during the Korean War (1950-53). It was a tough war for Americans.

  1. I went to your Wedding.
  2. Tennessee Waltz.
  3. Changing Partners.
  4. Unchanged Melody.
  5. Mocking Bird Hill.
  6. Moon River.
  7. You belong to me.
  8. What a Friend We have in Jesus.

  9. Fascination.
  10. Till I Waltz with You again.
  11. Oh Mein Papa.
  12. Vaya Con Dios.
  13. C'est Si Bon.
  14. Autumn Leaves.
  15. La Golondrina.
  16. Perfidia.

• Since AFKN was a station for information and education, I learned things from this radio. This station's favorite orchestra was the Los Angeles Philharmonic conducted by Alfred Wallenstein. I was able to hear Beethoven's symphonies systematically. I also recall symphonies by Brahms, and violin concertos by Mendelssohn and Bruch. Let us import some of them from YouTube.

  Johannes Brahms. The fourth movement of his first symphony was the theme music for AFKN's afternoon program for classical music.

  1. Final Movement of Brahms's Symphony No. 1 was used as the theme music for AFKN's afternoon symphony program.
     • from his Symphoniy No. 2, Berlin Philharmonic.
     • from his Symphony No.3, Berlin Philharmonic.
     • from his Symphony No.4, Berlin Philharmonic.
  2. Brahms Violin Concerto. David Oistrah playing.
  3. Brahms Lullaby, popular throuhgout the world.
  4. Hungarian Dance N. 5.
  5. Brahms Waltz.

  6. Symphony No.6, Herbert von Karajan conducting Berlin Philharmonic. [part 2] -- [part 3] -- [part 4]

  7. Bruch's Violin Concerto, Kyung Wha Chung [2nd mvt.] -- [3rd mvt.]
  8. Mendelssohn's Violin Concerto, Valerie Kim (violin) and Domique Kim [2nd mvt.] -- [3rd mvt.]

Radio Programs from Pyonyang

In 1945 (end of WWII), I was in the region of Korea now called North Korea. My family did not like the communist regime being set up there by Stalin and Beria and move to the South. But I was and still am interested in what happened in the region where I spent first the eleven years of my life.

• I used to pick up Russian songs.
  1. Kasatchok
  2. Katyusha
  3. Kalinka.
  4. Korobushka.
  5. Red Army March No.5 whose original title is Proschanie Slavianki.

• The Pyongyang radio was my Tchaikovsky station. I heard
  1. Tchaikovsky's Capriccio Italiana -- continued.
  2. Waltz from his Serenade for String. Violin by Jascha Heifetz.
  3. Andante Cantabile.
  4. Marche Slave.

  5. Beethoven's Symphony No. 6, 5th movement. They often used this as a background music for farmer's poems.
  6. Chopin's Funeral March. They aired this music when Stalin died in March of 1953, while everybody cheered in the South.

  7. Song of General Kim Il-Sung. I heard this song very often from the Pyongyang radio, but this song was not composed for the person who ruled North Korea from 1945 to until his death in 1994. Then, for whom was this song written? Click here for details.

Korea's Vienna

Danish hopital ship "Jutlandia" at the Busan Harbor during the Korean War (1950-53). This floating hospital had 300 beds.

First of all, they were quite diligent in training their children to be world-class musicians. This is the reason, why so many Koreans are active in world stages these days.

Indeed, this war-time capital city was another Vienna.

• Korean singers used to sing the following songs before I left Korea in 1954. They are now being reproduced at world stages by a younger Korean singer named Jo Sumi.

  Inside the Vienna Opera House.

  1. Il Bacio. The title of this song is "kiss," but this word used to be and still is an obscene word in Korea. The Korean title is "joy of love."
  2. O mio babbino caro from Puccini's Gianni Schicchi.
  3. Violetta - Sempre Libera from La Traviata.
  4. Waltz from Gounot's Romeo and Juliette.
  5. Mad for Love from Gounot's Romeo and Juliette.
  6. Voice of Spring. Johann Strauss waltz.
  7. Caro Nome from Rigoletto.
  8. Doll Song by Offenbach.
  9. Alleluja by Mozart.
  10. Blue Danube with Moscow Philharmonic in Japan.

• Deanna Durbin's songs were very popular among Koreans, especially after 1950.
  1. Amapola
  2. Estrellita.
  3. Ave Maria (Schubert).
  4. Ave Maria (Gounot).
  5. Nessun Dorma.
  6. Un bel di vedremo from Tosca.
  7. Les Filles de Cadiz.
  8. Il Bacio. Another Version.
  9. Home Sweet Home.
  10. Viennese Waltz.
  11. The Last Rose of Summer.
  12. Spring in my Hear, by Johann Strauss.
  13. La Traviata, when she was 16 years old.
  14. Je Veux Vivre - Charles Gounod
  15. Cielito Lindo.
  16. The Blue Danube.
  17. La Boheme - Musetta's Waltz
  18. Seguidilla from Carmen.
  19. Invitation to Dance. In 1951, I made a radio receiver while I was in Chinhae (southern end of the Korean peninsula) using four vacuum tubes. The first radio signal came with this waltz from a Japanese radio station in Fukuoka (close to Korea).

• I also heard the following violin pieces from Korean sources. They are now elegantly reproduced by Sarah Chang.
  1. Mendelssohn's violin concerto -- [part 2 of first mvt.] -- [2nd mvt.] -- [3rd mvt.]
  2. Tchaikovsky's Violin Concerto.
  3. on the Wings of Siongs by Mendelssohn.
  4. Introduction and Rondo Capriccioso. Sarah Chang's Debut.
  5. Carmen Fantasy.
  6. Meditation from Thais by Massent.
  7. Air on the G String by J. S. Bach.
  8. Zigeunerweisen with Placido Domingo conducting Berlin Philharmonic.

• Koreans love Piano Music.
  1. Chopin's Polonaise No.53.
  2. Heroic Polonaise.
  3. Chopin's Waltz No. 1.
  4. Waltz No. 2.
  5. Ballard No.1
  6. Grand Waltz Brilliant.

  7. Chopin's Piano Cencerto No. 1, 2nd mvt.
  8. Why do Koreans like Chopin?

  9. Tchaikovsky's Piano Concerto No.1, 2nd mvt.
  10. Haydn's Piano Concerto. I saw and heard a 12-year-old girl playing this concerto in entirety.

• Tea rooms used to be important social and business gathering places during the war time. They drink tea and coffee there. Those tea rooms used to provide background music in addition to airline-like services. In addition to Johann Strauss waltzes, popular items were Hungarian dances by Johannes Brahms.
  1. Hungarian Dance No. 5 was the most popular item. Also popular were
  2. [No. 6.] -- [No. 7.] -- [No. 4.] -- [No. 1.]

• Koreans used to and still love the following operatic arias. I heard them in Korea. Let us reproduce them.
  1. Mozart.
     • Madamina with Leprelo's Catalog of his master's ladies. You can read the numbers and add them up.
     • Madamina from an opera scence.
     • Vedrai Cerino from Don Giovanni. Elizabeth Schwarzkopf sings.
     • La ci darem la mano from Don Giovanni (Hong Heikyung as Zerlina)
     • Voi Che Sapete from Mozart Marriage of Figaro.
  2. Verdi.
     • Libiamo from La Travita reproduced by Maria Callas.
     • Un di Felice, Esterea mi Balenaste Innante (La Traviata) Renata Scotto and Hose Carreras. I saw La Traviata with Reneta Scotto in 1967 at the Lincoln Center's opera house in New York.
     • La donna e mobile from Rigoletto.
     • Un di Felice (La Traviata) by Anna Moffo and Nicolai Gedda.
     • O Patria Mia from Aida. This song is quite meaningful to those Koreans who fled North Korea and who could not go back. I am one of them.
  3. Bizet's Carmen.
     • Toreador Song.
     • Habanera reproduced by Maria Callas.
     • Seguidille.
     • Carmen's Dance.
  4. Johann Strauss.
     • Klange der Heimat from Die Fledermaus.
     • Laughing Song.
  5. Gounot's Faust.
     • Jewel Song.
     • Flower Song.
     • Chorus of Soldiers (Faust)
     • Faust Waltz (Faust)
  6. Bellini's Norma.
     • Mira, O Norma reproduced by Marilyn Horne and Joan Sutherland.
     • Casta Diva by Maria Callas.

• How about Symphonies? Korea was able to maintain one respectable philharmonic orchestra during this war time. This group was supported by the Korean navy. How did this happen? The wife of the navy chief was a musician and a composer. She thought the country's musical asset should be saved during the war time, and she was right. This orchestra was called the Korean Navy Symphony Orchestra. The official duty of this organization was to entertain Korean navy sailors and officers, but it in reality functioned as a cultural unit.

  I am with one of my high-school classmates (1992). His father was the conductor of this symphony orchestra.

  The orchestra sometimes performed for Americans. I attended one of their performances at the concert hall exclusively for Americans in 1952.

  1. New World Symphony. For Americans, what else can they play? This is the second movement of Dvorak's 9th symphony. The melody of this second movement is familiar to all Koreans. Then there was a visiting American violinist. He played Edward Lalo's Spanish Symphony with this Korean philharmonic orchestra. I could reproduce its third movement using the YuTube technology.
  2. Lalo's Spanish Symphony, final movement reproduced by Jasha Heifetz.

  3. He also played Pablo de Sarate's
     Zigeunerweisen reproduced by a Korean violinist with KBS Orchestra.

  This Navy orchestra was accompanied by a chorus and Korea's best singers. Among them was a nice-looking young lady named Lee Jung-Hee. She was a superb singer. She used to sing
  1. Il Bacio. reproduced by Shin Young-ok with a Korean orchestra.
     Among the male singers, there was a strong man named Lim Man-Sup. He used to sing
  2. La donna e mobile from Rigoletto reproduced by Luciano Pavarati.
  3. Grand March from Verdi's Aida was produced very often by the symphony and its chorus.

  Beethoven's Statue in Bonn where he was born.

• Koreans like symphonies accompanied by choruses. The ultimate choral symphony is of course is the final movement of Beethoven's 9th. Let us hear several versions conducted by different conductors.
  1. Leonard Bernstein -- [part 2] -- [part 3] -- [part 4]

  2. Herbert von Karajan -- [continued]

  3. Artru Toscanini -- [part 2] -- [part 3] -- [part 4] -- [part 5] -- [part 6] -- [part 7]

  4. Wilhelm Furtwangler (1942) conducted the Berlin Philharmonic on April 19 to celebrate Hitler's birthday on April 20. Because of his "dedication" to Hitler, Furtwangler was tried at the Nuremberg war criminal court in 1946, but was acquitted largely due to the aspiration Germans had for him. He was a God-like figure for all Germans. Furtwangler was allowed to continue his conducting career.
  5. Furtwangler conducting Beethoven's 9th (1951).

     He was also a legendary conductor in Japan. So was he in Korea. I heard about him very often while in Korea until 1954. Beethoven's 5th symphony was also very popular both in Japan and Korea. It was indeed prestigious to own a complete set of 78rpm recoding of this symphony conducted by Furtwangler. Let us hear his Beethoven produced shortly before his death in 1954.

  6. Beethoven's 5th Symphony -- [part2] -- [part3] -- [part4] -- [part5]

In 1954, I came to the United States.

Click here to continue.