5 short movements: Good earth, Dance, Birds, River Song, Pagoda
"Sketches of China" is an evocation of that ancient land, written following
a 5-province performing tour of China by Mike (with his wife Annalisa) as
bassoonist and oboist of the Arrieu Wind Quintet in 2000. The first setting
was for oboe and bassoon, created to depict the sounds of a Chinese
oboe (the suona) accompanied by a Chinese lute (the pipa). The
orchestra version was completed in 2002. The material is mostly original
with the use of a Chinese folk song ("Little River Running") in the 4th
movement.
Instrumentation:
solo-instrument in C and string orchestra