Sketches Of China

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.