1999

for violin, cello, and piano

By:

• John Psathas

Duration:

13' 00"

Availability

• This work has a score and 3 recordings

Programme Note

Island Songs were each inspired by certain styles of Greek dance music. They are not so much simulations of these styles as they are my own reaction to them, and what I have responded to mostly is the unique energy of each of the dance type.

The first piece involves a number of styles and reflects what I perceive as the latent energy of much of the music – although here it only surfaces from time to time. The second is a reaction to the great strength of the zeibekiko dance, which is in 9/4 time, and often extremely slow.

While not cast in the same time frame as a true zeibekiko, this movement does dwell upon the uncertainty of the downbeat and the intensely focused emotional content of this dance. The third piece is much in the style of the Sirto dance, whose energy is always lively and unfailingly contagious.

John Psathas
Notes taken from The NZTrio – Spark, Morrison Music Trust MMT2066

Difficulty:

Advanced

Difficulty Note:

Has previously been performed in the Schools' Chamber Music Contest.

Related Works

Three Island Songs

John Psathas

Performance History

	06 Feb 2007	Performed by the NZTrio
		NZTrio
	23 Mar 2008	Performed by the Eggner Trio at the Victoria Room, Invercargill
	25 Mar 2008	Performed by the Eggner Trio at Christchurch Town Hall
	27 Mar 2008	Performed by the Eggner Trio at Glenroy Auditorium, Dunedin
	31 Mar 2008	Performed by the Eggner Trio at Nelson School of Music Auditorium, Nelson
	02 Apr 2008	Performed by the Eggner Trio at the Regent on Broadway, Palmerston North
	03 Apr 2008	Performed by the Eggner Trio at the TSB Theatre Royal, New Plymouth
	05 Apr 2008	Performed by the Eggner Trio at the Gallagher Concert Chamber, Hamilton
	07 Apr 2008	Performed by the Eggner Trio in Napier
	08 Apr 2008	Performed by the Eggner Trio at Auckland Town Hall
	09 Apr 2008	Performed by the Eggner Trio at the Wellington Town Hall
	17 Jul 2009	Performed by the Cook Strait Trio – Amber Rainey (piano), Blythe Press (violin), Paul van Houtte (cello) at the Montana Brancott Winery, Blenheim
	19 Jul 2009	Performed by the Cook Strait Trio – Amber Rainey (piano), Blythe Press (violin), Paul van Houtte (cello) at the James Cumming Lecture Theatre in Gore
	21 Jul 2009	Performed by the Cook Strait Trio – Amber Rainey (piano), Blythe Press (violin), Paul van Houtte (cello) at St James Anglican Church in Roxburgh
	23 Jul 2009	Performed by the Cook Strait Trio – Amber Rainey (piano), Blythe Press (violin), Paul van Houtte (cello) at the Concert Chamber, War Memorial Hall in Wanganui
	26 Jul 2009	Performed by the Cook Strait Trio – Amber Rainey (piano), Blythe Press (violin), Paul van Houtte (cello) at the Waikanae Memorial Hall in Waikanae
	30 Jul 2009	Performed by the Cook Strait Trio – Amber Rainey (piano), Blythe Press (violin), Paul van Houtte (cello) at Lower Hutt Little Theatre in Lower Hutt
	02 Aug 2009	Performed by the Cook Strait Trio – Amber Rainey (piano), Blythe Press (violin), Paul van Houtte (cello) at the Women’s Club in Taihape
	09 Jul 2010	Performed by NZTrio as part of New Zealand’s presentation day at the World Expo 2010 in Shanghai 3rd movement only
		NZTrio
	09 Jul 2010	Performed by NZTrio as part of New Zealand’s presentation day at the World Expo 2010 in Shanghai 3rd movement only
		NZTrio
	14 Jul 2010	Performed NZTrio at a Gala Event held at the Grand Hyatt Hotel, Taipei, Taiwan 3rd movement only
		NZTrio
	01 May 2011	Performed by the NZTrio at the Lopdell House Gallery in Titirangi
		NZTrio