Elusive Cow is a clarinet duo written in the summer of 2024, for the Égide Duo. The piece features my recent signature musical characteristics: fast, loud, and rhythmic, always showcasing the virtuosity of the performers. The music mostly consists of many rhythmic patterns that I find cool. The title, Elusive Cow, comes from an American food restaurant near my house, a name I also thought was cool. While writing the piece and listening to the MIDI playback, when both clarinets play together in the lowest register, they sometimes sound like a cow to me, which is super cool, or moo~~~.

(Wenbin Lyu, July 17, 2024)

2025 - ICA Low Clarinet Festival Composition Competition; 1st prize

May 31, 2026; Chaparral Chamber Music Workshop; Trinity Presbyterian Church Prescott, AZ; Rachael Geiger & Brian Almanza

April 20, 2026; Arizona State University Tempe, AZ; Grady Newsum & Aiden Millsap

October 25, 2025; International Clarinet Association New Music Weekend; Online Performance; Égide Duo

September 27, 2025; Arizona State University; Tempe, AZ; Égide Duo

September 26, 2025; Glendale Community College; Glendale, AZ; East Lansing, MI; Égide Duo

May 31, 2025; Henri Selmer Summer Clarinet Academy; Michigan State University; East Lansing, MI; Égide Duo

April 8, 2025; Cohen Family Studio Theater; Cincinnati, OH; Guangcong Chen & Seokjun Yang

January 10, 2025 (premiere); Low Clarinet Festival; Glendale, AZ; Égide Duo