Giant Colored Bird II (2005) for two clarinets and bassoon was commissioned by Nicholas
Batko and is dedicated to him, Christina Johnson, and Eric Goldman.
The title refers to a vivid mental image of a large, brilliantly colored bird in the wild: both flying
and unfurling its wings, while looking out over a beautiful landscape. Giant Colored Bird II is
thus a joyous celebration of color and warmth.
The opening section is lyrical as each instrument in turn takes a solo role. This section dissolves
into short cadenza-like passages for each instrument. The second section is vibrant: a lilting
melody contrasts with driving figurations. The level of energy builds towards the conclusion.