DESCRIPTION:
Eunbi Kwak's Graduate Composition Recital

The Red Shoes 2015

Matthew Van Dyke, Conductor
Felicia Catney, Dancer
Moira Gannon, Soprano I
Emily K. Johnston, Soprano II
Jambol Leuenberger, Violin
Noelle Grand, Cello
Mark Loria, Piano
--------------------
The Red Shoes 2015

“The Red Shoes” is a fairy tale by Danish poet and author, Hans Christian Andersen.

Karen is orphaned when her mother dies. A shoemaker takes pity and makes her a pair of red shoes, but a rich old lady takes Karen in and buys her a new, more beautiful pair. Karen cannot overcome her desire to display these shoes and becomes so enamored with how pretty she looks; she pays no heed to the bishop and the teachings of God. Outside, an old soldier praises Karen’s shoes, calling them dancing shoes — and she starts dancing uncontrollably. She eventually reaches a church where an angel reveals that Karen will dance until she dies. Karen reaches the house of the executioner, whom she begs to chop off her feet. He does. She repents for her sins and prays to be able to enter a church again (because every time she tries, her shoes appear and block her way). Eventually, God sends her a vision of a church. Karen dies happily and goes to heaven.

After reading this story, I tried to understand Karen’s thoughts and feelings, not as a character from a story, but as another human being. Her story reminded me of how we can often be consumed by greed, desire, and materialistic values. However, I also believe that this is an innate human quality that is not necessarily “wrong.” Although my music centers on Karen’s story, it also describes the internal conflicts we face daily between our conscience and our desires. Although it is easy for us to dismiss this story as another creepy folk tale, I can’t help but question our strength had we been in Karen’s shoes. Look at your feet. Are you wearing them?

Karen’s internal struggle is represented by the instrumentation of my pieces. Soprano 1 pairs with the violin, while Soprano 2 pairs with the cello - each embodies Karen’s different emotional currents. The dancer is Karen herself being whisked away by these conflicting feelings.

I.
II. Yes, it shines. Yes, it’s mine.