Commissioned by the New Zealand Symphony Orchestra, Psathas's Percussion Concerto features four soloists, the principal amongst them being the mallet percussionist (marimba and vibraphone). The other soloists are the timpanist (who also plays tubular bells), the drum kit player (who also plays the orchestral bass drum instead of a kick drum), and a fourth player who moves between congas, bongos, crotales, glockenspiel and bass drum.

From the Composer

This concerto was composed in Atlanta and San Diego during the American summer of 1992. The work is in three movements and the two outer movements express my enthusiasm for jazz music and for the folk music of Greece, both of which radiate high levels of energy and intensity. The central movement is more serene, and achieves a sense of stillness at its conclusion. The work is dedicated to my family.