The twelve youthful creatures of the Chinese zodiac introduced in Book 1 have now entered their teenage years, and the same musical material has been extended and developed in more complex forms to reflect a corresponding development in the intermediate to more advanced performer's technical and musical maturity. Each animal is represented by a prelude and fugue reflecting an aspect of their character - the scurrying "Rascally Rat", lumbering "Mighty Ox" (with an implacable fugue subject made up of cluster chords), playfully dancing tigers, "Jubilant Rabbit" (portrayed through lolloping upwards and downwards arpeggios), freely "Soaring Dragon", and sinuously slithering "Spirited Snakes".
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.
