'Variations on a Korean Folk Song' by John Barnes Chance

Written in 1965, “Variations on a Korean Folk Song”, is one of the giants of the symphonic band literature. The work consists of five variations based on the Korean folk song “Arirang” that composer John Barnes Chance heard while serving in the Army in South Korea in the 1950s. The piece centers around an A-flat major pentatonic scale and highlights the different instrument families of woodwinds, brass, and percussion.

Please enjoy “Variations on a Korean Folk Song” by John Barnes Chance!

#USAFBand #ConcertBand #MusicEducation

[stolynn]

I played this in 8th grade. I still remember the audience standing and yelling "Bravo!!!". We had an amazing director. Now I'm playing it 50 years later in a community concert band. It brings back great memories.

[ivaeradon]

I remember playing this every year as one of the "what do the seniors want to play" pieces in high school, and it continues to impress. How MASSIVELY enjoyable!

[nicolasgs]

I dont know if the USAF band takes requests, but if you do, Incantation and Dance is another beautiful, and exotic arrangement by John Barnes Chance

[irenelovesgod]

We had a concert with 3 middle schools and a high school. One of the middle schools played this and wow, they did so good

[trumpet]

The trumpet solo is absolutely beautiful.

[vdwmglt]

As a Korean, this song is very great!❤

[clarinetperson]

I switched to horn my freshman year but not before playing this masterpiece on clarinet. I gives me chills to listen to it again

[theanimekid]

Even as a clarinet player, respect to the percussionist at the Vevace. That dude got mad skill

[HyunjinnieFerret]

2:37 is so breathtaking and so surreal to experience live. The percussion section doesn’t play during that part of the song so I get to just take it all in

[duckmunday]

I played this in 7th grade as it was my band directors last year at our school so he wanted to play a master piece, it was a very good song, hard to learn but fun at the end

[Fleetwing]

As a clarinetist, this is one of my favorite pieces that I've never gotten to perform, not in many years of high school, college, and community band. One day! But probably not quite this fast.

[DrSelfridgeMusic]

Timestamps helpful for listening/rehearsal :)
0:03 - m. 1
0:41 - m. 17
1:42 - Vivace
2:02 - m. 53
2:36 - Larghetto
3:55 - m. 108 (trumpet solo)
4:16 - Allegro Con Brio
5:14 - Sostenuto
5:53 - Con Islancio
6:45 - m. 241

[Snatchadilly]

We played this in my senior honor band and I got to play the oboe solo. Never been so nervous, ha! I love this song and think about it a lot. Thankful for good recordings like this to bring back good memories. The ending of this song gets me everytime.

[TylerMazone]

The clarinets at the start...holy chills down my back. I always enjoy wonderful performances from you guys!

[squiffurthewolf]

2:35 Man I could fall asleep to this part is so beautiful omg

[KennedyG]

As a tenor, I LOVE THIS PIECE!!! WE’RE PLAYING IT AT UIL AND WE GOT INVITED TO PLAY IN INDIANA IN FRONT OF LIKE 2k PEOPLE SO WE’RE PLAYING THIS, CORCORAN, DANCES OF INNOCENCE, BYZANTINE, INTO THE CLOUDS AND 2 MOREEE

[pastanick]

Playing the mallets on this and the xylophone pentatonic run near the beginning is so fun to play

[philp]

Bravo!!! Tight performance!! Great clarinet section, trumpets, too. This piece is notorious for intonation problems, but everyone did a really good job matching pitch. What a great ensemble!!

[LocalChirpingInsect]

our band has to play this for a concert soon and uh…..yeah it’s hard

[shilohclark]

I am shocked the bari didn't also play the bass clarinet part lol, even though my bad has a bass clarinet, I played too and that was super hard lol