Jin Hi Kim
The Jin Hi Kim Collection
Neuma Records
Release: 18 September 2026
236-digital-booklet.pdf
MP3 Download
It is hard to fit a lifetime’s work into a box – especially when the work is radical and boundary-breaking – but Korean-American artist Jin Hi Kim has tried to do just that. And with the release of the substantial (and free) Jin Hi Kim Collection, she demonstrates a generosity of spirit as boundless as her music. Curated by the artist herself and released exclusively through Bandcamp by Neuma Records the 10 hours (9 CDs and 52 tracks) of music offer an unprecedented deep dive into the work of one of contemporary music’s most remarkable voices.
The release traces Kim’s revolutionary four-decade career, which began with rigorous training in Korean traditional music in Seoul. Disillusioned by the Westernization of Korean music and its patriarchal structures, in 1980 Kim emigrated to California, where she studied composition with American masters John Adams, Lou Harrison, Terry Riley, and David Rosenboom. A commission from the Kronos Quartet and collaborations with guitarist Henry Kaiser launched her into the American experimental music scene, setting the stage for a profound synthesis of cultures.
Central to this body of work is Kim’s signature compositional philosophy, “Living Tones.” Rooted in Korean Buddhist and Shamanistic aesthetics, it treats each note not as a fixed point but as a living entity with its own shape, texture, vibrato, and dynamic contour.
The Collection is organized into themes – both composed and improvised – that illuminate the breadth of this philosophy:
• The opening set documents the pivotal 1995 “Living Tones Concert,” commissioned to promote healing in Los Angeles following the Rodney King riots.
• The next showcases her orchestral works, marking the major milestone of her Carnegie Hall debut in 2001 performing her first orchestral piece, Eternal Rock. This volume includes works that integrate komungo (Korean zither) with the Western orchestra, such as the “breathless” Monk Dance, and One Sky, composed for the 55th anniversary of the Korean War at the DMZ.
• Next comes her rhythmic, trance-inducing percussion music, including her Nori series, which translates Korean rhythmic cycles for Western instrumental ensembles.
• Then we explore her pioneering work with technology, featuring early interactive pieces for komungo with custom sensors and Max/MSP, as well as multicultural works like Garden of Venus, which united four pioneering Asian women soloists.
• The remainder of the Collection focuses on komungo improvisations with titans of free music and jazz, including Derek Bailey, Bill Frisell, Hans Reichel, Elliott Sharp, Oliver Lake, William Parker, and Gerry Hemingway. These recordings, from festivals in Berlin to intimate duos in New York, document her belief that “cross-cultural improvisation is not only a vital path to understanding humanity but also a profound form of communication.”
“This collection represents a life’s journey of discovering that true influence is never imitation, but a deep immersion that allows new musical expression to be born,” said Jin Hi Kim. “I am grateful to Wesleyan University for archiving this work and ensuring that the philosophy of Living Tones—where each sound is alive with its own spirit and history—can continue to inspire. These recordings are not commercial products, but an educational archive meant to be shared.”
The release features extensive liner notes drawn from Kim’s memoir, Duality of Ancient Korean Roots and Western New Music, and includes tracks recorded live at venues worldwide, including Carnegie Hall, Lincoln Center, the Kennedy Center, and the Berlin Free Music Festival.
A recipient of the Guggenheim Fellowship and United States Artists Fellowship, Jin Hi Kim has performed her compositions worldwide. Hailed by Grammy.com as “a musical philosopher and radiator of electricity,” she teaches at Wesleyan University.
Living Tones Compositions
From "The Living Tones Concert", 1995:
1 Nong Rock (1992) 14:58
2 Tchong (1995) 11:52
3 Yoeum (1995) 11:09
4 Piri Quartet (1993) 21:39
Orchestral Music:
5 Eternal Rock (2001) 13:43
6 Monk Dance (2007) 10:16
7 One Sky (2005) 17:49
8 Eternal Rock II (2006) 18:54
Percussion Music:
9 Nori III (2009) 13:11
10 Nori II (2008) 14:12
11 Nori (2002) 17:40
12 Refracted Confluence (1991) 12:29
Chamber Music:
13 Tilings (2013) 12:41
14 Garden of Venus (1999) 16:17
15 Kee Maek III (1988) 19:14
16 X5 for Solo Flute (1985) 8:10
17 Linking (1986) 12:18
18 Kee Maek (1986) 12:08
19 Su-Wol-Yong-Yul (1985) 13:00
20 Ritual for Earth (2024) 22:45
Komungo Improvisations
Electric Komungo:
21 Saturn’s Rings (2001) 3:30
22 Pale Blue Dot (2010) 10:28
23 Dancing in the Deep Sea (1999) 9:35
24 Circle of Time (2024) 7:08
25 Joy of Flying (2024) 11:02
26 Cosmic Meditation (2020) 4:25
27 Exceeding (2015) 6:55
28 Unknot (2003) 7:58
Free Music Festival, Berlin, 1999:
29 Shaman Dance (1999) 9:23
30 Dance of Black Crane (1999) 7:10
31 Stepping (1999) 8:36
32 Sun Rising in Berlin (1999) 12:53
33 Aliens Cave (1999) 10:24
34 Imitation (1993) 6:15
35 Storytelling (1999) 5:27
36 Everything is One (1999) 7:00
Komungo:
37 Quagmire (2000) 10:44
38 Yellow Seed (2016) 5:52
39 Mother Jatayu (2015) 14:18
40 Repulsive Tree (2015) 10:01
41 Ssalgeng (2000) 6:32
42 Turning Point (2000) 4:41
Komungo and Electric Komungo:
43 No World Improvisation (1994) 6:40
44 Dragon’s Tail (1990) 8:30
45 Frog Inside Well (1990) 2:29
46 Pushing Through (1989) 3:49
47 Yalu Delta (1990) 3:35
48 Coming Through (1992) 2:42
49 Companies (1992) 10:36
50 Company (1992) 5:11
51 Fast Talking (1989) 4:55
52 Tsunami (1991) 9:06
Physical promo CD boxed set is also available upon request. Note that this release is not available on all streaming services; only Bandcamp.
Artists are available for interviews. Please contact for details.
LISTEN ON SOUNDCLOUD (stream all private tracks without downloading)
DOWNLOAD MP3s
DOWNLOAD WAVs
DIGITAL BOOKLET
DOWNLOAD PROMO PHOTOS
Public links:
BANDCAMP LINK
LABEL LINK
ARTIST LINK
NB. The tracks below are selected as sample highlights from each CD; for the whole Collection audio, please download from the links above.
The release traces Kim’s revolutionary four-decade career, which began with rigorous training in Korean traditional music in Seoul. Disillusioned by the Westernization of Korean music and its patriarchal structures, in 1980 Kim emigrated to California, where she studied composition with American masters John Adams, Lou Harrison, Terry Riley, and David Rosenboom. A commission from the Kronos Quartet and collaborations with guitarist Henry Kaiser launched her into the American experimental music scene, setting the stage for a profound synthesis of cultures.
Central to this body of work is Kim’s signature compositional philosophy, “Living Tones.” Rooted in Korean Buddhist and Shamanistic aesthetics, it treats each note not as a fixed point but as a living entity with its own shape, texture, vibrato, and dynamic contour.
The Collection is organized into themes – both composed and improvised – that illuminate the breadth of this philosophy:
• The opening set documents the pivotal 1995 “Living Tones Concert,” commissioned to promote healing in Los Angeles following the Rodney King riots.
• The next showcases her orchestral works, marking the major milestone of her Carnegie Hall debut in 2001 performing her first orchestral piece, Eternal Rock. This volume includes works that integrate komungo (Korean zither) with the Western orchestra, such as the “breathless” Monk Dance, and One Sky, composed for the 55th anniversary of the Korean War at the DMZ.
• Next comes her rhythmic, trance-inducing percussion music, including her Nori series, which translates Korean rhythmic cycles for Western instrumental ensembles.
• Then we explore her pioneering work with technology, featuring early interactive pieces for komungo with custom sensors and Max/MSP, as well as multicultural works like Garden of Venus, which united four pioneering Asian women soloists.
• The remainder of the Collection focuses on komungo improvisations with titans of free music and jazz, including Derek Bailey, Bill Frisell, Hans Reichel, Elliott Sharp, Oliver Lake, William Parker, and Gerry Hemingway. These recordings, from festivals in Berlin to intimate duos in New York, document her belief that “cross-cultural improvisation is not only a vital path to understanding humanity but also a profound form of communication.”
“This collection represents a life’s journey of discovering that true influence is never imitation, but a deep immersion that allows new musical expression to be born,” said Jin Hi Kim. “I am grateful to Wesleyan University for archiving this work and ensuring that the philosophy of Living Tones—where each sound is alive with its own spirit and history—can continue to inspire. These recordings are not commercial products, but an educational archive meant to be shared.”
The release features extensive liner notes drawn from Kim’s memoir, Duality of Ancient Korean Roots and Western New Music, and includes tracks recorded live at venues worldwide, including Carnegie Hall, Lincoln Center, the Kennedy Center, and the Berlin Free Music Festival.
A recipient of the Guggenheim Fellowship and United States Artists Fellowship, Jin Hi Kim has performed her compositions worldwide. Hailed by Grammy.com as “a musical philosopher and radiator of electricity,” she teaches at Wesleyan University.
Living Tones Compositions
From "The Living Tones Concert", 1995:
1 Nong Rock (1992) 14:58
2 Tchong (1995) 11:52
3 Yoeum (1995) 11:09
4 Piri Quartet (1993) 21:39
Orchestral Music:
5 Eternal Rock (2001) 13:43
6 Monk Dance (2007) 10:16
7 One Sky (2005) 17:49
8 Eternal Rock II (2006) 18:54
Percussion Music:
9 Nori III (2009) 13:11
10 Nori II (2008) 14:12
11 Nori (2002) 17:40
12 Refracted Confluence (1991) 12:29
Chamber Music:
13 Tilings (2013) 12:41
14 Garden of Venus (1999) 16:17
15 Kee Maek III (1988) 19:14
16 X5 for Solo Flute (1985) 8:10
17 Linking (1986) 12:18
18 Kee Maek (1986) 12:08
19 Su-Wol-Yong-Yul (1985) 13:00
20 Ritual for Earth (2024) 22:45
Komungo Improvisations
Electric Komungo:
21 Saturn’s Rings (2001) 3:30
22 Pale Blue Dot (2010) 10:28
23 Dancing in the Deep Sea (1999) 9:35
24 Circle of Time (2024) 7:08
25 Joy of Flying (2024) 11:02
26 Cosmic Meditation (2020) 4:25
27 Exceeding (2015) 6:55
28 Unknot (2003) 7:58
Free Music Festival, Berlin, 1999:
29 Shaman Dance (1999) 9:23
30 Dance of Black Crane (1999) 7:10
31 Stepping (1999) 8:36
32 Sun Rising in Berlin (1999) 12:53
33 Aliens Cave (1999) 10:24
34 Imitation (1993) 6:15
35 Storytelling (1999) 5:27
36 Everything is One (1999) 7:00
Komungo:
37 Quagmire (2000) 10:44
38 Yellow Seed (2016) 5:52
39 Mother Jatayu (2015) 14:18
40 Repulsive Tree (2015) 10:01
41 Ssalgeng (2000) 6:32
42 Turning Point (2000) 4:41
Komungo and Electric Komungo:
43 No World Improvisation (1994) 6:40
44 Dragon’s Tail (1990) 8:30
45 Frog Inside Well (1990) 2:29
46 Pushing Through (1989) 3:49
47 Yalu Delta (1990) 3:35
48 Coming Through (1992) 2:42
49 Companies (1992) 10:36
50 Company (1992) 5:11
51 Fast Talking (1989) 4:55
52 Tsunami (1991) 9:06
Physical promo CD boxed set is also available upon request. Note that this release is not available on all streaming services; only Bandcamp.
Artists are available for interviews. Please contact for details.
LISTEN ON SOUNDCLOUD (stream all private tracks without downloading)
DOWNLOAD MP3s
DOWNLOAD WAVs
DIGITAL BOOKLET
DOWNLOAD PROMO PHOTOS
Public links:
BANDCAMP LINK
LABEL LINK
ARTIST LINK
NB. The tracks below are selected as sample highlights from each CD; for the whole Collection audio, please download from the links above.