Han Terra

Name and genealogy

In South Korea, originally she was named Raesook (래숙, 來俶: "Advent of Goodness" or "Goddess") and got a Buddhist name Myeongwol (명월, 明月), which means 'bright moon' at her early teen age from her Buddhist priest. Han has another ho Danyoung (단영, 澶濴) either. She created the name of 'TeRra' by herself based on the ideas of Latin languages and the earth goddess Tellus and combined all the conception of her other names in the 2000s.

Han is a Cheongju Han (청주 한씨, 淸州 韓氏) clan, the clan is well known for producing most 6 queens in the Choseon Kingdom. On her mother side, grandmother's family was a family of fashion and textile business and immigrated from Japan to Korea in the late 1920s.

Western classical music studies

Terra was born in Seoul, South Korea. Her initial ambition was to become a pianist, having taken piano lessons at the age of 4. As soon as she started piano, she amazed her neighbors that she mastered Czerny's piano etude, Mozart Sonata's, Bach's pieces so quickly. Soon she was awarded a special prize in the Korean National Piano Concours at age of 8. She also played piano for her school's choir, in addition to the piano, she studied various western musical instruments such as violin, flute. When she was age at 8, she composed a song first and it was published on her elementary school's annual journal.

She said 'I am still admiring piano's artistry more than my kayageum's pretty often. I did play piano intrigued by its melodic beauty and the clear techniques from the artwork as instrumental itself, yet I have been doing kayageum for fun. It perpetually stimulates my curiosity, it was eventually questions of our mysterious world.' in the interview with Seoul Shinmun.

Korean traditional music

Spurred by her mother's encouragement, however, she began to study Korean classical music focused on Kayageum and dance at the age of six. When she was eight, she was awarded the Grand special prize as the youngest recipient in the Korean National Student Music Competition in 1989.

During her early years, Han had mastery of full version of kayageum Sanjo of Seong Kuem Yeon, Kim Juk Pa, Choi Ok Sam school and all repertoires of kayageum court music, Jeong-ak. She also extended her mastery of the instrument such as the 18, 21 and 25 stringed kayageums during the 1990s. her technique and refined sound of her playing were legendary, while in the Gugak National Middle school and Gukak National High school, her practice at the school attracted many colleagues who came to observe her playing. Her colleagues used a nickname of 'CD(compact disc) album', a reference to her sound she created that reflects old kayageum master's recordings. It was also an affectionate joke referring to her small and elegant facial physique, which is about a full CD size.

Musical crisis

After the period of intensive training in Kayageum during her early, precocious years, Han went through a period of crisis, which brought confusion of musical identities and mannerisms, as her adolescent years were coming to a close. Han graduated from Gugak National Middle and High School (the premier National Korean Music school for teens). However, because she had masted already almost solo kayageum solo pieces that she had a hard time to adjust to school's life and their curriculums. Despite she didn't want to enter a college to focus herself to music, Han graduated from the High School as the top of music classes and entered the department of Korean classical music, Seoul National University, with the blessings of the high school's principal as the first-recommended .

During this period, she briefly considered quitting music altogether and instead pursuing a career in journalism.

When she was a college student at Seoul National University, she was a reporter at the SNU Journal. As well as, she was a heroine actress for an independent film directed which was entered in a film festival in 2002.

Memoir of TeRra by The Korea Times

In 2015, Han officially resumed her activity after 11 years with an ebook 'TeRra' written by the Jang Byung Wook who is a columnist in South Korea it published by The Korea Times. Coincidentally live album 'TeRra (Live)' released which is containing her performance for 15 years.

Education

Han graduated from Gugak National Middle and High School (the premier National Korean Music school for teens) and entered the department of Korean classical music, Seoul National University, College of Music, with the blessings of the high school's principal as the first-recommended . After graduation from Seoul National University in 2004, she continued her postgraduate studies at the same university. Han holds a master's degree in music and is currently completing the requirements for the D.M.A degree in Kayageum performance from Seoul National University.

Han trained on the kayageum under the Kim IlRyun since her early years, studied under the professor Chae-suk Lee, and studied Kayageum Jeong-ak for Korean court music under the Jeongja Kim at the Seoul National University. Han also studied Pansori and Kayageum Byeongchang under Yoojin Chung, as well as, was trained Korean classical dance such as Salpuri, Buchaechum, Chunaeg-Jeon and so on by Eunhee Song.

Han speaks 5 languages: Korean, Japanese, Chinese, English and French.

Asian performing arts (Japan, China, India et.c)

Han was trained other Asian zither traditions including the Japanese Koto, Shamisen, the Chinese Guzheng, and the Indian Sitar. Through her research stints in Japan and China, Han acquired deeper understanding of the pan-Asian musical heritage. She took lessons of Japanese Koto of Ikuta school under the professor Ando Masateru at Tokyo University of the Arts and Chinese Guzheng, North Korea and Yanbian province Kayageum under the Chinese National Human Heritage, Xingsan Jin at the Yanbian University and studied their traditional other performing arts forms such as Japanese traditional dance and singing. In addition, she studied Indian Sitar with Daisy Paradis in New York.

Presently, she is a member of Asian Musicology.

Collaborations

Active as a concert soloist since age 12, Han collaborated with many Korean traditional music Orchestra such as Seoul Metropolitan Korean Music Orchestra, National Orchestra of Korea, Jeonju Korean Music Orchestra, Daejeon Korean Music Orchestra with representative conductors of Korean music such as Jaewon Lim, Pyeonryong Lim, Sangil Han. Pyeongryong Lim hailed her as one of the most talented Kayageum players. In addition, she was chosen a soloist at the subscription concert of Seoul National University, College of music in 2002, she played kayageum concerto 'Saeya Saeya' composed by Sungcheon Lee with the Korean Music Orchestra of Seoul National University conducted Chulho Kim, who was an executive director of National Gugak Center. at the Yeak-dang of National Gugak Center, 2002.

Recitals

Han had solo recitals at the Sejong Center sponsored by Seoul City, Kumho Art hall sponsored by Kumho Asiana Cultural Foundation, Youngsan Art Hall, among other musical venues of Korea. She cemented her reputation as the young prodigy of kayageum when she was selected as the first Kayageum player in the Young Artist by Kumho Cultural Foundation in 1999. Subsequently, she performed the Kayageum Jeong-ak(Korean court music), Kayageum Sanjo, Spring Snow for 18 stringed kayageum composed by Hwang Byungki, Bell flower variations for 25 stringed kayageum at her recital in 2000 since she played all kinds of kayageum such as traditional 12 stringed and 18,25 stringed kayageum.

In 2009. Han had an invited recital at the Namsan Traditional Theater, she was acclaimed as she met the challenge of keeping the balance between the original Korean music tradition and the newly emerging world music. She also played the 'Five scenes for Kayageum' composed by the prominent composer of modern classical music, Sukhi Kang with the 21 stringed kayageum. The piece had been played with a 25 stringed kayageum because of the complexity of the composition. The performance garnered acclaim and endorsement from the composer for her musical audacity and the extraordinary techniques she commanded.

Chamber music and orchestra

Han was a charter Kayageum player of the Korean Traditional Music Youth Orchestra in 2003, after graduated Seoul National University, became the youngest Kayageum player of the Seongnam Municipal Korean Classical Music Orchestra. Presently, she is a member of the Korean Zither's Association.

Compositions

TeRra Han started release of her own compositions since 2016, but she was already arranging piano pieces to kayageum when she was early child ages such as by Mozart, Bach. She mentioned that she had never been educated composing, learned by herself, as well as, she was influenced by Sukhi Kang, Pierre Boulez and John Zorn. In the interview with on SBS TV Show Culture Club, she said she had never wanted to compose music but it was devotion.

Her first composition is 'Viola Code No. 1', it was inspired by the French poet Charles Baudelaire & Korean Sanghwa Lee, it was world premiered by French violist Erwan Richard on her recital celebrating 130th anniversary of diplomatic relations between France and Korea. The second composition is 'Piano Code No. 1' inspired by arts work 'Wind of the Ancient Times' (2010, terra cotta) by Insu Choi, the piece was worked premiered by herself with kayageum arranged gallery art link 2016.

However Ms. Han's original beginning composition was happened at age of 8, it was published on her elementary school's annual journal.

United States

Han debuted internationally through series of recitals in the United States at venues such as Sam Sumg Hall of the Asian Art Museum of San Francisco as part of the San Francisco International Arts Festival, and the Doris Duke Hall at the Honolulu Academy of Arts, and the Northwest Folk life Festival in Seattle. She was billed as the 'latest young prodigy of kayageum'. although she had performed all over the countries in the world until then. even though she had extensively performed both in and outside Korea by then. Her US concerts includes an invited recital at Brown University in 2008 in which she performed kayageum Sanjo, Byeongchang (singing with kayageum), Korean traditional dance and contemporary music using the 25-string kayageum.

Since 2010, she widened her musical presence in New York City where she began collaborations with various experimental, improvisational and other avant-garde groups, exchanging musical heritage with a variety of artists, especially in minimalism and improvisational style of music as represented by eminent composers Philip Glass, Steve Reich and John Zorn.

Carnegie Hall debut

On September 29, 2015, Han had debut stage at the Weill Recital Hall, Carnegie Hall, in New York. It was actually internationally tour concert starting from at the Suginami Public Hall in Tokyo, Japan and National Gugak Center in Seoul, South Korea. She played Kayageum Sanjo full version of Choi Ok Sam which is a National intangible heritage No.23 of South Korea, it was world premier that Choi Ok Sam sanjo full version performed and she was the youngest Korean traditional musicians of a few who ever had a recital at the Carnegie hall, even at the Suginami Public Hall, either.

Asia

In 2010, Han resided for some time in Tokyo, Japan during which she tried to adapt Japanese traditional music for Kayageum such as Haru no Umi, Ochibanoodori of Miyagi Michio through collaborations with Japanese traditional instrumentalist. The effort was supported by the Korean Cultural Council of Korean Embassy in Japan.

Han visited Yanbian in Northeast China in 2011 to research performing arts forms of North Korea, Yanbian province and China with the Xingsan Kim who is a Chinese National Heritage of Kayageum of China. Their collaboration included exchange of musical concepts and playing techniques of 21,22 and 23 stringed kayageums.

French Arts Relations (RÉVÉLATION Π {displaystyle Pi } )

TeRra Han had stayed in Paris 2012, since then she has been collaborating with French artists such as visual artist Benjamin Efratit, electronic musician Richard Pinhas. In 2016, celebrating 130 years of diplomatic relations of France and Korea, she had a recital, REVELATION series Π at the Sejong Center for the Performing Arts in Seoul supported by the Institut Français. For this recital, Terra Han revisits the music at Kagayeum and has a France-Korean version of this traditional instrument, with the participation of Erwan Richard, French violist. Through the solos and duets of the artist and one can see the genius of Baudelaire, the Korean court music of the 11th century, but also the French and modern classical music.

She arranged and performed by herself "Le cygne" by Saint-Saëns, and works by Marin Marais, Claude Achille Debussy, Carl Maria von Weber, etc. and her own composition "MA DoNNA" inspired by the French poet Charles Baudelaire and Korean Sanghwa Lee.

"Moving Work of Art"

During her stay in New York City in 2012, she presented the music and dances in the tradition of Chosun Kisaeng (Courtesans of the Chosun Dynasty), titled "Sonnet of an Innocent Flower" at the Korea Society. During the performance, the prominent authority on the Korean music, Dr. Robert. C Provine accompanied her performance with a segments of lectures on each piece. After the event which encompassed kayageum music, song and dance which faithfully replicated the fabled Chosun Kisaeng tradition, people who attended the event hailed her as a "Moving Work of Art".

The TeRras

She visited Tokyo again in 2012 for the purpose of furthering exchange and development of Asian Arts through collaborations with various Japanese artists. The effort culminated in a series of recitals, "Han TeRra Korean Kayago Relay Recitals Tokyo" for five days. The collaborators included Aquiles Hadjis, video artist Benjamin Efrati, pianist Marina Mise, flutist Yoshiki Nose, koto player Hukuda Yasuko, Fujita Ryuhei and so on. Gallery Fuuro, Gallery Pam-a, Mejiro Garden, Supper Deluxe supported the recitals and the Korean Cultural Council of Korean Embassy in Japan sponsored. Her fan club, the TeRras, Han TeRra Kayago Society, was founded in Tokyo during the concert.

A Maestro who Saved Girl Genius (RÉVÉLATION)

She had contribution concerts for 80 years birth of Sukhi Kang who is one of the most representative contemporary composers of South Korea hosted by Museum of Modern and Contemporary Arts of Republic of Korea, Seoul Museum of Arts and Museum of Arts, Seoul National University 2015 April–May. The concert of the Museum of Modern and Contemporary Arts was appointed the official cultural event by Korean government. In fact, the concert series of hers which happened as long as 11 years in Korea since she spend time in overseas including Tokyo, New York, Paris and Beijing, as well as the long period of identical crisis of music by herself.

She presented cutting-edged contemporary masterpiece of Sukhi Kang's which she arranged the pieces for western classical ensemble instruments to solo kayageum as a world premiere, either. One of the pieces was an improvisational electronic kayageum music with film of Namjun Paik who was a visual artist, close friend to Sukhi Kang.

She made headlines titled 'A Maestro who Saved Girl Genius Lost Curiosity, Sukhi Kang and TeRra Han' printed by The Korea Times, written by Byung Wook Jang who is one of the most prominent journalist in South Korea, March 24, 2014.

After her concerts, the journalist Jang Byung Wook wrote a book about Han as form of ebook titled Terra, it was printed by The Korea Times DB contents department, Feb. 2015.

Scientific research on acoustics of Asian zithers

She tried scientific approach to acoustics of Asian string instrument. Since 2011, she has been visiting to the acoustics department of the Massachusetts Institute of Technology and North Bennet School in a scientific approach to relationship between arts and science She presented 'Introduction to the Asian Zither through the 12 stringed Korean kayageum' at the room 3-207 MIT 2012.

Fashion collection

TeRra Han has been designing her dress for performance at the stage until now, she had a first fashion collection and show in Tokyo, gallery Pam-a 2013. She designed the show with her own kayageum music, about 10 models had a show at the stage. The title was 'from chima-chogori to court dress of Choseon', as reported by Tokyo Times (Tokyo Shimbun).

Media appearance

Han has appeared in major media and broadcasting both of Korean domestic and oversea.s In 1999–2000, Han has appeared in Korean Broadcasting System for giving new message celebrating new millennium years 2000. In addition, she appeared in some entertainment programs of Korean Broadcasting System, Seoul Broadcasting System and traditional music programs. Also she had interviews music radio, Gugak FM.

TeRra Han made headlines and full cover of major newspapers such as the Korea Daily, The Korea Times, Epoch Times, etc., and The Korea Times published a book of her, TeRra written by Byungwook Jang, Korean prominent columnist 2015.

Epoch Times New York made cover page with her performance at the Carnegie Hall and the article of her music pressed as titled "The essence of the Korean traditional music in 21 century" written by the publisher Stephen Gregory, and columnist Milene Ferendaz epoch times Oct.30th both online and paper version. Milene Ferendaz described her 'work of art of ancient times that had come to life.' The journalist, Gomiyoji (五味 洋治) reported her as a title 'Bridging Asian in Music' in the Tokyo Shimbun, 17 October. In addition, The Korea Times reported her as 'Best Korean kayageum musician have a Carnegie Hall debut as the youngest kayageum musician'.

Discography

Han's albums include recordings of traditional kayageum solo music, concertos and variety of chamber music including court music, sanjo music and contemporary music. She has also recorded in non Korean kayageum music styles, in Japanese and Chinese traditional music with Koto or Guzheng. Her Japanese Koto album 'Sakura' was appointed as the special edition celebrating 50 years of the diplomatic relations between Korea and Japan by the governments.

Awards and recognition

Schools

Others

Thesis

2006. An analytical studies on composition of 5 scenes for Gayageum by Sukhi Kang

Publications