This work is an arrangement for Percussion Ensemble of Psathas' piano trio Aegean (PE181), written in 2012. Short and elegant, Aegean is perfect for ensembles wishing to add a dose of romance to a concert programme. The work is inspired in part by the view from the composer's parents' house, which overlooks the Aegean Sea. Arranger Omar Carmenates makes excellent use of timbre in this arrangement, as the vibraphones' shimmering resonance and the marimbas' warm earthiness readily evoke the aqueous, sunlit contours suggested in the original version.
John Psathas is a New Zealand freelance composer and teacher who, at a relatively early stage in his career, has established an international profile and receives regular commissions from organisations both in New Zealand and overseas. His works are championed around the world by a growing number of leading international artists, one of the most consistent of whom has been the Scottish percussionist Evelyn Glennie. Initially making a name for himself as a composer of high-energy percussion music, more recently the composer has concentrated on a series of larger-scale concertante works. A major career highlight to date has been the commission to compose the ceremonial music for the opening and closing of the 2004 Athens Olympic Games. In 2005 John Psathas was created an Officer of the New Zealand Order of Merit for his services to music.
