FERIA, Andre Lorenz B.

Art Stud 174

2013-78284

Mr. Robin Daniel Rivera

Yiruma: A Classical-Popular Crossover

John Cage once said, I cant understand why people are frightened of new ideas. Im frightened
with the old ones. Yiruma seems to share the same sentiments with Cage. Born in South Korea and raised in
England, he grew up having the best opportunities to study music. He is a classically trained pianist who
graduated from the Purcell School of Music and earned his music composition degree from Kings College
London.
I first encountered Yiruma during my first years in high school. His music was like a breath of fresh
air. As a kid who grew up listening to church music and classical music, my appreciation for musical styles
and genres was very limited. I never really had a chance to expose myself to other genres like pop, rock,
indie and the likes greatly due to the fact that my upbringing was very conservative. Yiruma, on the other
hand, offered the yearning musician inside me a different feel of music yet all the same very familiar.
River Flows In You was the very first music I heard from this great artist. It was during the hype of
the film Twilight that paved way to the popularisation of this particular music. It was considered as Bellas
unofficial lullaby, probably because fans thought it would perfectly set the mood to the scenes. But Carter
Burwell thought otherwise. Although both set in major keys, the original composer of Bellas Lullaby had
something different in mind as he set the music in a heavy feel which is completely different from Yirumas
version in A-flat major. Youd understand why people thought his version was the lullaby because it was
indeed closer to making you feel transcendent. River Flows In You had me on repeat for months and,
admittedly, I still listen and play this music up to this day.
Listening and playing Yirumas works, one could actually tell that it doesn't give off the same pop
music formula (the 4-chord progression) which is what most of popular music is today. His craft is well
thought of, it leaves you with something to hum. Why is this so? I asked myself over and over again as I go
through his complete discography wondering how he managed to capture the hearts of many people. Then it
hit me. He has mastered the art of crossing over.
Yiruma, being the classical pianist that he is, has somehow managed to use his skills to his
advantage. It is a reality that the present generation would rather spend for Taylor Swifts concert than watch
Berlin Philharmoniker perform Mahlers symphonies. I believe that Yiruma also faced the same dilemma as
a new artist trying to establish a name in the industry. He needed to get his name out there and what better
way to do so than to adapt to peoples preferences. He gave listeners a new way of appreciation for music.
His technical style clearly portrayed his well-rounded classical education fused with his passion to reach the
popular audience. It isn't something like Beethovens Appassionata Sonata which needs great understanding
of its form for one to fully appreciate it; nor is it like Katy Perrys 4-chord progression songs. It is a breath
of fresh air both for classical musicians who need a lighter perspective on new music and for pop music fans
who want to engage in something classically technical yet can be fully appreciated.
As a fan of his music, I can personally say that Yiruma has successfully lived up to his name - I
shall achieve.