Psathas's high-octane Seikilos is inspired by a remnant of ancient Greek music; a short song by the composer Seikilos from the second or first century BC, engraved on a tombstone as an epitaph for his wife. While writing this piece Psathas found himself contemplating the implications of the occasion it had been commissioned to mark, and was reminded of the greatest lesson to be learned from his Greek heritage: live while you can.
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.
