Aarhus, Denmark

Arriving in Denmark in November, it was cold. It was snowing heavily and the roads were frozen solid, making it difficult to walk around. However, I think it was the warm welcome I received from the Danish collaborators that made me feel somehow warm even in this wintery climate. Without much ado, we started with the recording. Our recording studio, Finnish Studio, is situated just outside of Aarhus, was the perfect place for musical creations. A large studio that you wouldn't expect to find in a secluded country house, it was there that we rhapsodised about the meeting of Korea and Denmark. The songs continued with themes of Korean bellflowers, Arirangs, and Danish forests. We packed up early and headed back to the hostel for the next day's concert. The concert was entitled 'Songs of the Forest Calm' (which was inspired both by the name of a Danish folk song and the popular association of Korea as the Land of the Morning Calm). It took place at the Royal Danish Academy of Music in Aarhus, Denmark. It was a meaningful event that brought together students and faculty from the school as well as a sizeable local Danish audience. The next day, I concluded my trip with a workshop on Korean music for composition students at the Royal Academy of Music.