In his efforts to stretch the boundaries of the classical music scene as his audience knows it, Sang Woo Kang has long been interested in experimenting with various methods of presenting art, ultimately presenting concerts in new and dynamic fashions. In 2010, upon reception of the Committee on Aid to Faculty Research (CAFR) grant awarded from Providence College for innovative research in one’s respective field, Dr. Kang received the funds to pursue this interest in the spring of the following year. During his stay in Thailand, he and his colleague and fellow Providence College professor Eric Sung, a photographer, will present the live concert experience in conjunction with striking visual abstract images photographed and edited by Mr. Sung and presented in a slideshow format.
This lecture recital, incorporating visual elements, will be held at Chulanlongkorn University in Bangkok on June 8, at 1:30 PM. The program includes Liszt’s Leggierezza concert etude. The lecture portion will contain examples of how visual imagery and music have been incorporated together in various ways to resounding success.
This new approach, inspired in part by the music videos so prevalent in pop music, seeks to enhance the classical music concert experience in a way that has not been explored in much depth previously. By incorporating other forms of art as well as encouraging this sort of dialogue into the concert experience, Dr. Kang seeks to build emotional connections between the pieces and the listeners as another way to use classical music as a relevant force in society.
About Eric Sung, assistant professor of photography at Providence College:
Photography is a doorway that leads from me to everything else. My artistic interest is to be aware of my being both historically and conceptually. While my camera aims outward, I seek deeper understanding of my pre-existent awareness. This on-going interest is the seed for my love of image-making. [Source]
Mr. Sung’s past experience in multimedia also extends to the performance of live opera accompanied by a video piece, as well as a string quartet, accompanied by his video piece, performing Black Angels by George Crumb.