Program Notes

Yun Dong-ju’s poem Counting the Stars at Night reflects both his personal emotions and the historical struggles of his time. In this work, the stars symbolize what was most precious to him, including his homeland, family, friends, ideals, and dreams. Through this symbolism, Yun transforms despair and solitude into a quiet resilience. His poetry gives voice to both historical and personal suffering while affirming a hope born from inner struggle and a yearning to reclaim what was lost.Although a musical idea drawn from the text shapes this piece, its most distinctive feature is that each movement is guided by a different emotional intensity. Fullness and emptiness coexist, ranging from suppressed emotions to fully expressed ones. I wrote this piece very openly, in my own way.