Ukiyo is a highly visceral duo for vibraphone, marimba and digital audio. It calls for the use of two audio tracks which the performers operate and synchronise with their instruments. Psathas's inspiration for Ukiyo was the Zen monks and haiku poets who spoke of life in terms of a transient ‘floating world' (ukiyo), or of a dream that vanishes - our corporeal existence is one in which happening gives way to happening, illusion follows illusion, and all is a phantasm void of substance.
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.
