Inspired by the Chinese Zodiac animals, Ho tailored this book of twelve piano compositions to the educational needs of students in Levels 2 to 7 of the Royal Conservatory of Music Piano Series. Ho devoted much time to researching the animals' legends, personality traits, and cultural significance, as well as their distinguishing physical languages so as to capture their musical spirit and recreate their physical/gestural languages in pianistic form. In addition, he incorporates many sounds, harmonies, and performance techniques learned from his years of researching (and composing for) Chinese traditional instruments.
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.
