IAN KROUSE (b.1956): Symphony No. 5, Op. 55, “A Journey Towards Peace” for Baritone, Brass Quartet and Orchestra, Fanfare for the Heroes of the Korean War, Op. 71, Symphonies of Strings No. 1, Op. 33b “La Follia” and No. 2, Op. 30b “Song of Freedom”.

Description: Underscoring the very special relationship between the United States and the Republic of Korea, the 2017 version of Ian Krouse’s Symphony No. 5 performed on this recording with a South Korean orchestra commemorates the 70th anniversary of the Korean War. At the heart of the second movement of this expressively powerful and wide-ranging work Krouse mingles three famous American melodies with the popular Korean tune Arirang. The two Symphonies of Strings show why he is so distinctive a composer: one is scored for strings but without violins and the other is a brilliantly inventive ‘geometrical’ exploration of La Follia. Texts included. Michael Dean (bass-baritone), UCLA Brass Quartet, Seocho Philharmonia; Jong Hoon Bae.