Nok - Du - Kkot (Mung - Bean Flower) (2005) by Eun Young Lee

First performance- Masumi Per Rostad from Pacifica Quartet and eighth blackbird; Cliff Colnot, conductor, Mandel Hall, Chicago, May 17, 2005

Bird, bird, blue bird,
do not sit on the Mung-bean tree.
If the Mung-bean flower sheds too soon,
the green jelly peddler leaves weeping.

This Min-yo (folk-song) is generally interpreted regarding Bong-joon Jeun (1854-1895), who was called as a general mung-bean, as mung-bean flower and common people as a peddler. The general defended common people against corrupt politicians in 1890s as well as fought against Japan after Chung and Japan war. I dedicated this piece to common people who are in diverse kinds of difficulties in this world especially for ongoing war and previous wars. Hoping that although those difficulties create agony, the pure spirit of people for genuine justice could be firmly able to stand and could be strongly continued for real PEACE.

This piece is dedicated to Han-Koo Lee.