Candey: Bird in Ink

Composer: Griffin Candey (1988-) Instrumentation: Piano, Alto Saxophone Work: Bird in Ink (2024) Binding: Size: 9.1 x 12.0 inches Pages: 38 Description Bird in Ink (2024) was commissioned by saxophonist Zhao Shilong to embody birds via the guiding principles of Chinese ink paintings. This style of "ink wash" painting, as well as its focus on birds, began as far back as the Tang Dynasty (618-907 AD) and subsequently influenced painting and calligraphy techniques across East and Southeast Asia for centuries after. This piece responds primarily to three of the core tenets of the form: efficiency of line, spontaneity of line, and the communication of the "spirit" of a subject (rather than its literal form.)