Sandman's Castle

Sandman’s Castle sees Ho draw a multitude of sounds from a single tam-tam, most notably by having the player use an array of objects to strike or rub against the instrument. The dark timbre of the tam-tam disguises the playfulness at the heart of this enjoyable work, as the entire surface of the tam-tam is explored in an intriguing seven-minute journey. Ho allows time for the rich resonance of the tam-tam to be savoured in Sandman’s Castle, through his often spacious and gestural writing. Elsewhere, animal-like scratchings intensify to produce dense rolls that display the deep power of the instrument.