Gyftiko is Psathas' first work for solo violin. The piece, which is comprised of quick melismatic passages, intertwining voices, and a heavy use of double-stops, is both expressive and virtuosic. The title of the work translates to 'gypsy-like'; a moniker which relates to and informs the modal flavour throughout the piece. Gyftiko is unrelenting with regards to the level of technical competency required by the performer, and though all notes have been distinctly specified, sections of the work exhibit an improvisatory quality.
Gyftiko was commissioned by the 2011 Michael Hill International Violin Competition with funding support from Creative New Zealand. The premiere performance – by the competition competitors – took place at the Queenstown Memorial Hall, New Zealand on 5 June 2011, with the First Place award going to Sergey Malov (Russia).
Passionate and virtuosic... the double-stops that incorporate open strings, of course, lie well on the instrument, while others are quite challenging to realise. Recommended.
