Psathas' excitable and high-spirited Happy Tachyons sees melodic bursts from the twinkling, bright vibraphone alternating with the woody depth of the marimba. Elsewhere the percussionist must navigate passages that require the vibraphone and marimba to be played simultaneously. The flashy percussive lines skate incessantly over a heavily syncopated piano accompaniment.
Composed at the request of Evelyn Glennie, the technical demands of Happy Tachyons are deliberately pitched at the edge of what is humanly possible, particularly the passages where the percussionist is required to play both vibes and marimba simultaneously. The exuberant high spirits which pervade the piece reflect the fact that during its composition Carla and I were expecting our first child, Emanuel, who was busy preparing his entrance into this world.
