John Psathas Photo: Gareth Watkins / Lilburn Trust / Wallace Arts Trust
The composer writes: "Drafted immediately after reading a book by the Buddhist guru Chögyam Trungpa, Abhisheka was my first-ever attempt at writing music with space in it. Until this piece, practically everything I had written was ultra-caffeinated, fast, full of notes, and murder on performers.
But having been (albeit temporarily) inspired by the great truths and peace in Trungpa’s writing, I found myself navigating slower passages of musical time, as well as exploring the microcosm of inner space between the even intervals of our chromatic tuning system."
This work has a firm place in the New Zealand String Quartet's repertoire and they have performed it all over the world.
Recorded 25 August 2018, Hunter Council Chamber, Wellington by RNZ Concert.
Sound Engineer: Darryl Stack
