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Ahn Eaktae

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Ahn Ikte (1906-1965) was a Korean composer of classical music. His work includes Aegukga, now the national anthem of South Korea, and the Symphonic Fantasy Korea.

Contents

Early Life

Ahn was born in Pyeongyang, Korea, on December 5th, 1906, as a third son of Ahn Dukhoon (안덕훈. Ahn's family was a branch of the extended family of Soon-hoong Ahn (순흥 안씨), renowned for having produced patriots, such as Ahn Chanho (안찬호) and Ahn Joonggeun (안중근))p. 6-7 Woongjin weeinjungi #34 Ahn Ikte by Baek Sukgi. (C) 1987 Woongjin Publishing Co., Ltd.. Ahn's father was determined to put his sons under western education, and sent his eldest son Ahn Iksam to attend Japanese schools in Tokyo. Knowing that Ahn was interested in music, his elder brother gave the eight year old a violin when he came for a visit during breakp. 8 Woongjin weeinjungi #34 Ahn Ikte by Baek Sukgi. (C) 1987 Woongjin Publishing Co., Ltd.. When Ahn Iksam saw that his brother studied fervently in music, he brought music records with a phonograph, and Ikte was able to listen to the best of classical music.

In 1914, Ahn as a ten-year old was admitted to the Pyeongyang Jongro Botong Schoolhttp://www.cucucu.com/ezboard/ezboard.cgi?db=korean&action=read&dbf=28&page=0&depth=1. Around the same time, Ahn took interest and excelled in playing the trumpethttp://hishkim.com.ne.kr/l/comp/aniktae.htm. In 1918, Ahn was admitted to the Soongsil Middle School. Here he became a member of the orchestra, and Ahn's brother Iksam gave him cello as rewardp. 10 Woongjin weeinjungi #34 Ahn Ikte by Baek Sukgi. (C) 1987 Woongjin Publishing Co., Ltd.. Dr. Maori, the principal of the school, also had interest in music, and helped Ahn receive private tutoring for cello. With Dr. Mauri's help, Ahn later visited Seoul during summer to learn under Mr. Greg, a Canadian missionary famous for his talents in cello.

In 1919, Dr. Maori led the school orchestra into participating in the nationwide March 1st Movement, which was a Korean effort to protest peacefully against Japanese rule over the Korean peninsulap. 13 Woongjin weeinjungi #34 Ahn Ikte by Baek Sukgi. (C) 1987 Woongjin Publishing Co., Ltd.. From this experience, Ahn gained much interest in patriotism, and began a student-held movement to protest against teachers at the school who taught from Japanese point of view. Yet, Dr. Maori thought this as inappropriate, and punished Ahn for his deeds. Sometime in September, Ahn was intermingled into an effort to raid a jail in order to rescue the March 1st Movement activists who were caught by the Japanese police. But on one of the meetings, the police came to arrest the participants. Luckily, Ahn escaped without much injury and immediately fled to Dr. Maori's house. He was treated at Dr. Maori's hospital for over a week, and Dr. Maori refused to submit to the requests of the police. Dr. Maori later visited the police station, and discussed about Ahn's matters with the department head. Impressed by Dr. Maori's character, the department head agreed to let Ahn bypass imprisonment by forging papers permitting Ahn to study music in Tokyohttp://www.ahneaktai.or.kr/.

Study in Japan

On October 6th, 1919, Ahn went to the port of Pusan on a train, and boarded a ship toward Simonoseki. Living with his brother Iksam, Ahn tried his best to be accepted to a middle school. After many failed attempts, Ahn succeeded in being accepted to Tokyo Seisoku Middle School when the school principal noted Ahn's extraordinary musical talentsp. 19-20 Woongjin weeinjungi #34 Ahn Ikte by Baek Sukgi. (C) 1987 Woongjin Publishing Co., Ltd..

In 1926, Ahn was accepted to the Tokyo Geijutsu Daigaku. On summer of that year, Ahn returned to Korea as a part of music performance trip to gather funds for the reconstruction of a burned down church. His played his cello in various concerts, including one at Soongsil Middle School. He met various important Koreans, such as Yi Sangjae, the founder of the Dokrip Newspaper and leader of the independence movement activistsp. 31-32 Woongjin weeinjungi #34 Ahn Ikte by Baek Sukgi. (C) 1987 Woongjin Publishing Co., Ltd.. Jo Mansik was another independence movement leader who advocated the use of Korean-made products so that Korea would be able to repay all of its debts. He asked Ahn to lead a demonstration promoting the use of Korean commodities by playing his cello on a car; Ahn accepted.

In 1928, Ahn's father died, and his mother was having financial difficulty in providing her five sons education. Therefore, Ahn sought for a job, and was hired in a luxurious restaurant to play his cello. Even this was not enough to pay for the school tuition; Ahn would not graduate. As Ahn suffered from financial hardship, his friends offered help. His friends offered their cello for Ahn to borrow when he broke his. Ahn was bought a new dress suit by a Korean friend as he could not afford it. A Japanese who had great respect for Ahn's talents and ambition gave him a new Suzuki violin. And, most of all, Ahn was able to graduate because his teacher Hansford paid for all of Ahn's due school tution feesp. 41-42 Woongjin weeinjungi #34 Ahn Ikte by Baek Sukgi. (C) 1987 Woongjin Publishing Co., Ltd.. Ahn had a late graduation, and, although it was for one person, it proceeded as if it were for many. When he received his diploma under the eyes of his teachers, Ahn broke into tears. After his graduation, Ahn had a cello concert, as proposed by his teachers. At this performance, the Japanese newspapers appraised Ahn as "the genius with bright future"p. 43 Woongjin weeinjungi #34 Ahn Ikte by Baek Sukgi. (C) 1987 Woongjin Publishing Co., Ltd..

In May of 1930, Ahn returned to Korea after 11 years away from home. He visited Dr. Maori at his old school. He suggested Ahn to go to the United States to study music, and, after being prohibited by the Japanese police from holding a concert, Ahn decided that he needed to leave Korea to pursuit his goals freelyp. 45-46 Woongjin weeinjungi #34 Ahn Ikte by Baek Sukgi. (C) 1987 Woongjin Publishing Co., Ltd..

In the United States

Upon arriving in San Francisco, Ahn was checked for his possessions for financial and medical reasons. The officials wanted to sterilize his cello, but Ahn refused to hand it over; he was imprisoned. Ahn asked a prison guard to allow him to have his confiscated cello, and the prison guard complied. Ahn then practiced with his cello, and the prison guard, having decided that such person did not deserve to be jailed, arranged for Ahn's release the next dayp. 50 Woongjin weeinjungi #34 Ahn Ikte by Baek Sukgi. (C) 1987 Woongjin Publishing Co., Ltd..

Back on the streets of San Francisco, Ahn sought for a Korean church introduced by Dr. Maori. Here Ahn was welcomed by Pastor Hwang and attended a service, in which he heard the first Korean national anthem. It was based on an English song Old Rang Sign and Ahn thought it unfit for a national anthem; he was determined to compose a new national anthem for Koreap. 54 Woongjin weeinjungi #34 Ahn Ikte by Baek Sukgi. (C) 1987 Woongjin Publishing Co., Ltd.. As Ahn awaited in the train station to head toward Cincinnati, Pastor Hwang gave him a black suitcase, and a fountain pen to write the national anthemp. 58 Woongjin weeinjungi #34 Ahn Ikte by Baek Sukgi. (C) 1987 Woongjin Publishing Co., Ltd..

Pastor Hwang had already contacted Ahn's upperclassman Park Wonjung, now a student in the University of Cincinnati College-Conservatory of Music. They had attended the same Soongsil Middle School and the Tokyo Geijutsu Daigaku. Park met Ahn at the train station. Ahn was accepted to the University of Cincinnati College-Conservatory of Musichttp://www.topianet.co.kr/topia/4/4D/41d0901ye.htm. To make his living, Ahn playedin a restaurant, and, although the pay was only 3 dollars, it was acceptable considering that the United States was recovering from the Great Depressionp. 59 Woongjin weeinjungi #34 Ahn Ikte by Baek Sukgi. (C) 1987 Woongjin Publishing Co., Ltd.. In 1930, Ahn was became a member of the Cincinnati Symphony Orchestra as the 1st cellist, and, during the spring break of his second year, Ahn toured around the United States to perform in large cities. One of his concerts was held in the Carnegie Hall, and the New York newspapers described his performance with much approbationsp. 59 Woongjin weeinjungi #34 Ahn Ikte by Baek Sukgi. (C) 1987 Woongjin Publishing Co., Ltd..

After his successful tour, Ahn decided to be a conductor, and was transferred to the University of Pennsylvania. A year later, in 1935, Ahn was accepted to the Curtis Institute of Music. Around this time, Ahn was assigned as a conductor of the church choir in Camden Church, and his skill and the success of this church choir became widely known. Ahn's talents reached even Leopold Stokowski's ears, and, after observing one of the choir's performances, the worldly renowned conductor invited Ahn to the Philadelphia Orchestrap. 66 Woongjin weeinjungi #34 Ahn Ikte by Baek Sukgi. (C) 1987 Woongjin Publishing Co., Ltd.. As he studied under Stokowski, he began and finished his work, Symphonic Fantasy Korea. Unfortunately, as his time was consumed into composing music, he was unable to earn money and pay for his rent; he was forced to move out with his belongings. When Mary, a neighboring girl who used to visit Ahn to listen to his cello, learned of this, her father, Mr. Peables, invited him to his housep. 70 Woongjin weeinjungi #34 Ahn Ikte by Baek Sukgi. (C) 1987 Woongjin Publishing Co., Ltd.. Also Mr. Peables gratuitously offered to pay for his rent.

Symphonic Fantasy Korea was accepted to a concours in the Carnegie Hall, and Ahn was given chance to conduct the New York Philharmonic. But, the general attitude of the orchestra members was full of disrespect for an Asian conductor, and the performance was a chaos. Greatly angered, Ahn threw down his baton. The audience followed with shouts requesting for another fresh performance. But Ahn refused, expressing his disappointment at the NewYork Philharmonicp. 72 Woongjin weeinjungi #34 Ahn Ikte by Baek Sukgi. (C) 1987 Woongjin Publishing Co., Ltd.. Upon his return to the Peables family, Mary's father praised Ahn of his actions and apologized on behalf of the Americans. And he also offered to send Ahn to Europe to study and pay for all of tuition fees.

Europe

On April 8th, 1936, Ahn left New York City, and, upon landing on Europe, headed to Berlin. Here he completed the Aegukga and sent it to a Korean Independence Movement organization, the Korean People Meeting, in San Francisco. He also made final touches to the Symphonic Fantasy Koreap. 78 Woongjin weeinjungi #34 Ahn Ikte by Baek Sukgi. (C) 1987 Woongjin Publishing Co., Ltd.. In 1936, Ahn moved to Vienna in Austria to study under Bernhard Paumgartner, a famous composer and Beethoven interpreter. After, he went to Hungary to study under Professor Kodai. He taught Ahn Asian music, elements of which Ahn applied to Symphonic Fantasy Koreap. 83 Woongjin weeinjungi #34 Ahn Ikte by Baek Sukgi. (C) 1987 Woongjin Publishing Co., Ltd..

In 1937, Ahn was invited to Dublin, Ireland, to perform Symphonic Fantasy Korea. It easily won the Irish audience, as Ireland had been under the British rule as Korea was under the Japanese occupation. He then went back to Vienna and met with the famous composer Richard Strauss to discuss about Symphonic Fantasy Korea. Mr. Strauss agreed to teach Ahn, and gradually their friendship grew. In 1939, Ahn graduated from University of Budapest. Complimenting on Ahn's talent, Mr. Strauss gave Ahn to conduct a concert in Budapest in place of him. Unfortunately, Ahn had spent countless hours in preparing for the concert that he collapsed on the last song. Even at this the Hungarian newspapers praised Ahn for his effortsp. 90 Woongjin weeinjungi #34 Ahn Ikte by Baek Sukgi. (C) 1987 Woongjin Publishing Co., Ltd.. At Mr. Strauss's recommendation, Rome Philharmonic Orchestra gladly accepted Ahn as its conductor; many other orchestras across Europe followed, and Ahn travelled all over Europe to perform as the conductor.

In December of 1940, Berlin Philharmonic Orchestra, the world's greatest orchestra at the time, invited Ahn to be its conductorp. 91 Woongjin weeinjungi #34 Ahn Ikte by Baek Sukgi. (C) 1987 Woongjin Publishing Co., Ltd.. The German newspapers filled its articles about Ahn with generous praises. He continued to conduct many famous orchestras in Europe; the Japanese government was concerned as his performances included Symphonic Fantasy Korea, ending part of which contained the Aegukga. Once, Ahn was expelled from Italy because he conducted the Rome Philharmonic Orchestra in Symphonic Fantasy Koreap. 93 Woongjin weeinjungi #34 Ahn Ikte by Baek Sukgi. (C) 1987 Woongjin Publishing Co., Ltd.. Then Ahn was invited by the Orchestre de Paris in 1943. But he was forced to leave in 1944, when the German forces succeeded in occupying Paris. He was invited by the Spanish embassador to conduct for the Orquestra Simfonica de Barcelonap. 94-95 Woongjin weeinjungi #34 Ahn Ikte by Baek Sukgi. (C) 1987 Woongjin Publishing Co., Ltd..

In a social gathering, Ahn was introduced to Miss Lolita, who had become a fervent fan of Ahn when she had seen a film on one of Ahn's performancesp. 96 Woongjin weeinjungi #34 Ahn Ikte by Baek Sukgi. (C) 1987 Woongjin Publishing Co., Ltd.. Miss Lolita began a discussion about the Japanese Occupation of Korea, and Ahn felt very close to her because she understood the situations about his motherland. They promised to meet again. During his stay in Spain, the World War II was over with allied victory, and Korea gained its independence. And in July of 1946, Miss Lolita and Ahn got marriedp. 97 Woongjin weeinjungi #34 Ahn Ikte by Baek Sukgi. (C) 1987 Woongjin Publishing Co., Ltd.. After then, Ahn went to the island of Majorca, where he worked to form the The Palma de Mallorca Symphony Orchestrap. 94-95 Woongjin weeinjungi #34 Ahn Ikte by Baek Sukgi. (C) 1987 Woongjin Publishing Co., Ltd..

Return to Korea

On August 15th, 1948, Ahn's Aegukga was sang in the ceremony commemorating the establishment of the Korean government. After the Korean War, on February 19th, 1955, Ahn returned to his motherland after 25 years away from homep. 99 Woongjin weeinjungi #34 Ahn Ikte by Baek Sukgi. (C) 1987 Woongjin Publishing Co., Ltd.. The military band sang the Aegukga upon Ahn's arrival. Soon after, Ahn was awarded Cultural Medal of Merit.

Later Ahn was invited by the Tokyo Geijutsu Daigaku, and Ahn arrived at Haneda Airport in January of 1960p. 103 Woongjin weeinjungi #34 Ahn Ikte by Baek Sukgi. (C) 1987 Woongjin Publishing Co., Ltd.. On the night of February 4th, Ahn conducted a concert at the Yaon Hibiya Auditorium. After his success in Tokyo, Ahn flew to Osaka where he held another concertp. 106 Woongjin weeinjungi #34 Ahn Ikte by Baek Sukgi. (C) 1987 Woongjin Publishing Co., Ltd.. Koreans living Osaka had been divided politically between the North and South; therefore, after the concert, Ahn urged the Korean audience for unity and cooperationp. 107 Woongjin weeinjungi #34 Ahn Ikte by Baek Sukgi. (C) 1987 Woongjin Publishing Co., Ltd.. Later in 1964, Ahn was invited by the NHK broadcast station to conduct a concert during the 1964 Summer Olympicsp. 107-108 Woongjin weeinjungi #34 Ahn Ikte by Baek Sukgi. (C) 1987 Woongjin Publishing Co., Ltd..

After a successful concert in Spain, Ahn organized three international music festivals in Seoulp. 110 Woongjin weeinjungi #34 Ahn Ikte by Baek Sukgi. (C) 1987 Woongjin Publishing Co., Ltd.. Back on Majorca, Ahn hit a sudden illness and died on September 16th, 1965p. 111 Woongjin weeinjungi #34 Ahn Ikte by Baek Sukgi. (C) 1987 Woongjin Publishing Co., Ltd.. On July 8th, 1977, Ahn's ashes were transferred from Majorca to the Korean National Cemetery.

See also

External links

References

 

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