John Psathas' mighty work for timpani and orchestra, Planet Damnation, takes five-drum solo timpani writing to the edge of technical possibility. This edition includes a performance package and includes digital audio that contains a professionally sequenced orchestral backing track. The digital audio includes a performance mix without solo timpani, a reference mix with the solo timpani part, and practice mixes set at various tempi. It is perfect for extending your skills in the percussion studio and thrilling listeners with Psathas' high energy music in advanced student recitals, auditions and concerto competitions.
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.
