Work
Psyzygysm
for solo percussionist and mass chamber ensemble including percussion
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About
The title roughly translatable as ‘conjunction’, Psyzygysm is an exhilarating chamber concerto that brings together an eclectic ensemble in support of the mallet percussion soloist. Psathas’ preoccupation with jazz and traditional music is synthesised in this work into an explosive, headlong rush. The piano, double bass and drum kit work together like the rhythm section of a jazz combo, the winds and string quartet feature wailing, Middle-Eastern-inspired melodies and the percussion quartet create a musical and visual focus to the piece that locks all the elements together. Psyzygysm is dedicated to the composer’s dear friend David Crossan, guardian techno-angel, saviour of computer crashes, and resurrector of long-lost files.
Commissioned note
Commissioned by Carla Van Zon for Stroma at the New Zealand International Festival of the Arts and the OrchestrUtopica, Portugal, with the support of Creative New Zealand and the Hattori Foundation
Dedication note
Dedicated to David Crossan - JP, 'my guardian techno-angel'
Performance history
13 Jun 2008: Grind Show
Performed by Pedro Carneiro (vibraphone and marimba), Lance Philip (percussion), Nick Tipping (bass), Donald Nicolson (piano) with Stroma - Mark Carter (trumpet), Bridget Douglas (flute), Patrick Barry (clarinet), Robert Weeks (bassoon), Su Yi (harp), Vessa-Matti Leppanen (violin), Rebecca Struthers (violin), Andrew Thomson (viola), Rowan Prior (cello), Jeremy Fitzsimons (marimba and percussion) and conducted by Hamish McKeich