The Ostrich Ascending was written for two bassoons in the winter of 2021. This duet could probably be the most challenging piece I've ever written. I spent most of the time working on the rhythmic patterns and inherent motions, the sound which reminds me of a scene where ostriches are running in the desert. Therefore, I titled it The Ostrich Ascending in response to Vaughan Williams' The Lark Ascending in a humorous way. This is the first piece I've written for the New Downbeat as their composer-in-residence.

(Wenbin Lyu, January 25, 2022)

April 16, 2022; Arts + Community (ARCO); Cincinnati, OH; New Downbeat