Description
Mouth Organ & Pipe Organ | Wind & Reed**
Album Introduction
Wind & Reed (風, 琴) brings together two instruments that both create sound through air: the Korean saenghwang (mouth organ), performed by renowned player Kim Hyo-young, and the pipe organ, played by world-class organist Shin Dong-il. The title Pung, Geum reflects this shared principle, combining the character for “wind” (風) with the traditional character “琴,” historically used to denote string or musical instruments in East Asia.
This album features contemporary works by Korean composers as well as creative arrangements of the Korean folk song Bird, Bird, Bluebird (Saeya, Saeya) and the beloved children’s song Island Baby (Seomjip Agi). With the blend of East and West—saenghwang and organ, two instruments with long yet distinct traditions—it offers a harmonious soundscape filled with nostalgia and cultural resonance.
The recording took place at the Elim Art Center in Incheon, home to a concert pipe organ, capturing the perfect acoustic balance of the two instruments. The sessions were engineered by Hwang Byung-joon of Soundmirror Korea, known for his Grammy Award-winning work.
Following its release, promotional concerts were held on January 7, 2022, at the Elim Art Center, with further performances including a Taiwan tour in May 2022 and a special recital at Radio France in Paris on February 9, 2023.
Background of the Project
The concept of Wind & Reed originated from the 2018 concert Pipe, co-presented by the composers’ collective Music Today and held at Kyungdong Church in Seoul.
The album includes:
-
“Rococo Sinawi” by Choi Myung-hoon (premiered at Pipe)
-
“The Lonely One of Autumn” by Lee Hong-seok
-
“Bird, Bird, Bluebird” (arranged by Moon Sung-hee)
-
“Island Baby” (traditional children’s song)
By uniting the saenghwang—deeply tied to East Asian culture and spirituality—with the pipe organ, an emblem of Western sacred music, this project aspires to create new harmony that transcends both East and West, tradition and modernity.
Artist Profiles
Kim Hyo-young – Saenghwang
Kim Hyo-young is Korea’s foremost performer of the saenghwang, a mystical and ancient Korean free-reed mouth organ. Through her performance and composition, she has revived and modernized this rare instrument, bringing it renewed attention in contemporary music.
In addition to her artistry as a performer, she is recognized for her adventurous cross-genre collaborations and compositions that expand beyond traditional boundaries. She has been awarded the New Rising Female Artist Award (Seoul Newspaper, 2013) and the Grand Prize in Wind Instruments at the KBS Traditional Music Awards (2015).
Her international career includes a residency at the Cité des Arts in Paris (2014) and invitations to perform at the Korean Music Festival in Frankfurt (2016, 2017). Her solo recital Dreaming of Saint-Saëns (2017) reinterpreting Yun Isang’s works was also featured at the reopening of the Yun Isang Memorial Hall later that year.
Discography highlights:
-
Rebirth (2009, Pony Canyon Korea)
-
Hyangga (2011, Sony Music Korea)
-
Rebirth III: Flow (2021, Sound Republica)
-
Single When the Wind Comes (2021, Sound Republica)
She currently teaches as an adjunct professor at Sookmyung Women’s University Graduate School.
Shin Dong-il – Pipe Organ
Hailed by international media as “one of the finest organists of his generation” (Echo Républicain, France) and “a young musician to watch” (La Marseillaise, France), Shin Dong-il is praised for his “astonishing technique, sensitivity, and artistry” (ABC, Spain). His performances have been described as “graceful, confident, and expressive” (Dallas Morning News, USA) and “among the best classical concerts of the year” (Star-Telegram, USA).
Winner of the Grand Prix de Chartres International Organ Competition, Shin has received numerous awards and has performed extensively across Europe, the Americas, Asia, Oceania, and Africa.
He made his debut at age 11 with the Busan Philharmonic Orchestra, performing Mozart’s Piano Concerto No. 20. At 13, he began organ studies with Professor Sun-woo Cho, later graduating from Yonsei University’s Department of Church Music under Professor Dong-soon Kwak. He continued his advanced studies at the Conservatoire National Supérieur de Musique de Lyon and the Conservatoire National Supérieur de Musique de Paris, studying with Jean Boyer, Olivier Latry, and Marie-Claire Alain.
Shin currently serves as Professor of Church Music at Yonsei University and organist of the Yonsei University Church.
![aespa - 4th Mini Album : Drama [Scene ver.] (Random)](https://empresskorea.b-cdn.net/wp-content/uploads/2025/04/b0223-3.jpg)
![aespa - 1th Mini Album : Savage [Hallucination Quest ver.]](https://empresskorea.b-cdn.net/wp-content/uploads/2025/04/b0223-5.jpg)
![MEDIHEAL Derma Modeling Powder 28g*2ea [Collagen]](https://empresskorea.b-cdn.net/wp-content/uploads/2025/05/0623-54.jpg)
Ella Cortés from Mexico City, Mexico (verified owner) –
This album reshapes sound into a thrilling tapestry. Kim and Shin meld rich timbres, bridging ancient tradition with modern storytelling—a delightful sonic adventure.
Anika Byers from Toronto –
Enveloped in an airy tapestry, ‘Wind & Reed’ ingeniously intertwines the sultry notes of a Korean saenghwang and the majestic sounds emanating from a grand pipe organ. The album creates atmospheric bridges between nature’s breath and human artistry—think dusk serenades beneath canopies that sway with whispers. When tackling traditional songs like ‘Bird, Bird, Bluebird’ and remixing playful rhythms found in children’s heartbeats on ‘Island Baby’, Kim Hyo-young carves emotion into each resonance alongside Shin Dong-il’s bold chords transporting listeners to avenues blooming with harmonies rarefied by time yet untethered to modernity.
Emilio Ramirez from Mexico City, Mexico –
At first glance, I found the combination of a Korean mouth organ and a pipe organ rather peculiar—two vastly different sound worlds converging. However, as Kim Hyo-young expertly played the saenghwang alongside Shin Dong-il’s rich harmonies on the pipe organ, any doubts dissipated. Each note felt like an embodiment of wind swirling through space, awakening my senses to their ancient dialogue. Particularly striking was their arrangement of ‘Bird, Bird, Bluebird’, which seemed to transform simplicity into something profoundly resonant—a celebration of both heritage and innovation within melodies. Truly captivating.
Leila Tashiro from Sapporo, Japan –
Harmonies danced between my senses, igniting childhood memories of my grandmother’s stories whispered through trees in our garden. Saenghwang’s sound intertwined seamlessly with Shin Dong-il’s pipes, each note a warm embrace.
Minsoo from Seoul, South Korea –
Pretty nice sounds! The blend of the mouth organ and pipe organ is unique. Really enjoyed it during my evenings at home.