Commissioned to mark the 10th anniversary of the University of Calgary's Rozsa Centre, Ho's Two Postcards: Prelude and Groove was written using solfege compositional procedures based on two words that held special meaning to the Rozsa family: Lola and doodlebug. The phonetic quality of the name Lola inspired Ho's writing of Prelude, reminding him of the poetry of Arthur Rimbaud, where the poet's choice of words was based on their phonetic sounds to intensify the reader's experience. For Groove, Ho was inspired by the original meaning of doodlebug - a self-propelled personal railcar - and he couldn't help but imagine a cartoon railcar bopping and singing along as it carried its passengers to their destinations.
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.
