One of the defining works of Ho's career thus far, Arctic Symphony is a 40-minute tribute to the northernmost reaches of the Earth and all life that exists there. Inspired by his experiences during a trip to the Arctic region in 2008, Ho expresses the full range of his impressions across the work's five movements by reaching beyond the orchestra's already extensive sonic palette. Incorporating extended performance techniques and objects from nature, orchestral forces become elemental forces. Elsewhere, Ho combines elements of Western music with features of traditional aboriginal music in acknowledgment of cultures that have lived in partnership with the Arctic ecosystem for millennia.
Vincent Ho is a Canadian who is widely recognised as one of the most exciting composers of his generation. He has made waves in the music world of North America despite being fairly early in his compositional career, receiving numerous prizes, accolades, and prominent commissions in a relatively short space of time. Ho’s music is rich and energetic - a unique integration of influences ranging from the visual arts, electroacoustic and natural soundscapes, traditional classical music forms, and the physical properties of the instruments and ensembles for which he writes. His music is sensual, sonorous and richly textured, and Ho gives considerable attention to the audience’s experience of his intricate sound-worlds.
