Nostalgia was originally intended as an encore piece for Ho's percussion concerto The Shaman, but is now growing in popularity as a stand-alone work for solo vibraphone. Ho composes taking inspiration from other forms of art such as photography, painting and poetry. Ho was inspired by a poem about an endearing childhood memory when writing Nostalgia. Throughout the work he exploits the evocative sound of the solo vibraphone to express the emotion of bittersweet longing in memories. The work was written especially for Dame Evelyn Glennie. Nostalgia is perfect for creating a beautiful and thoughtful point within recital programmes.
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.
