Instrumentation: Dadi, pipa, and harp
Duration: 5 minutes
Year: 2022
Program Notes
Commissioned by the PheoNX Ensemble with generous support from the Canada Council for the Arts, I am Sheep (2022) is a trio for Bb Dadi, pipa and harp inspired by the iconology of the sheep in the Chinese Zodiac calendar. As a composer born in the year of the sheep, many of my friends and family have remarked on the uncanny parallels between my personality and that of the sheep. Sheep are easygoing, empathetic, and gentle creatures who are quite low maintenance, as long as there is food around. Sheep also love hanging around other sheep and are therefore extremely social animals that flock together. As such, this piece is an ode to the simplicity of the sheep, beginning with singular notes in all three instruments which build towards unison textures representing the joyful yet harmonious flocking of sheep.
The piece is part of the PhoeNX Ensemble’s Jade Emperor and the Great Race Project which aims to retell through music, poetry and visual art the legend of the Lunar New Year Zodiac Celebration. Many thanks to Patty Chan and Sanya Eng for bringing this project forward.
Score
Currently under exclusivity until 2025.
Score Sample
Roydon Tse 