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Work


A Cool Wind

for string quartet

Year:  2008

Year:  2008

Composer:   John Psathas

Films, Audio & Samples

John Psathas: A Cool Wind -...

External video
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About

'This musical supplication is inspired partly by the playing of world-renowned duduk player Djivan Gasparyan. It is a plea for a balm, a cool wind, to ease anguish and torment.'
- John Psathas, note on the score of A Cool Wind.

In my past experiences collaborating with master folk musicians in Greece, I repeatedly came across the same answer when querying them on their ultimate aim when performing; namely that what they try to do is emulate the human voice, whatever the instrument they happen to be playing (even percussionists!) I think the inspiration behind this concept is one of eliminating the barrier between the impulse and the sound, to remove the instrument from the equation and - in the way of singing - articulate spontaneously. The duduk is one of the most remarkably voice-like instruments I have ever heard, and it is this quality which inspired me when writing.

The title page refers to this piece as a supplication, and this is the best description of the overlapping inner parts that grow out of the opening few measures.

-JP


Commissioned note

Commissioned for the Takacs Quartet by Chamber Music New Zealand