Main menu  Psathas - Nocturnes  John Psathas   Number of
percussion players: 1 or 2  Total number of players: Soprano,
alto, tenor, and baritone saxophone, and percussion (bass drum,
suspended cymbal, wind chimes, tom-toms, congas, kick drum)
Approximate time: 10’ 00”   The composer writes: ‘These three
nocturnes express some of the many different impressions I have
of what “night-music” can be. The first is a strange, unsettled
lullaby leading seamlessly into sleep and the unpredictable
world of dreams. The second represents night as a time of quiet
yet intense and focused energy, while the third piece is more
light-hearted and has the feeling of release and recreation that
can be experienced at the twilight end of the day.  ‘Composing
is often a very visual experience for me and when writing these
three piece I found myself imagining tropical evenings, warm
breezes, fading light, and the sense of the ocean nearby.’
Annotated by Nicholas White  Back to top