Matre's Dance

John Psathas

General Info

Year of Publication: 1991
Publisher： Promethean Editions Limited
Duration: 00:09:45
Commissioner: Jack Body (with financial support from Creative New Zealand)
Costs: $47.95

Premiere Info

Performer: Bruce McKinnon (Percussionist) & David Guerin (Pianist)
Place: Adam Concert Room at Victoria University of Wellington
Date: April 1991

Instrumentation

Player 1: Piano (recommended that the piano be amplified)
Player 2: 6 Roto-toms

Overview

• References Dune Dance of Death
• Relentlessly Energetic

Description

The title actually confuses two characters in the Frank Herbert Dune series. When writing the program note I was thinking of the Honored Matre's in the 5th and 6th books of the series, whereas the dance I remembered from the books was actually danced by the character Sheena;

Slowly, not wanting to arouse the prostrate priests, Sheeana began the shuffling, unrhythmic movements of the dance. As the remembered music grew within her, she unclasped her hands and swung her arms wide. Her feet lifted high in the stately movements. Her body turned, slowly at first and then more swiftly as the dance ecstasy increased. Her long brown hair whipped around her face. The priests excluded from their attention all except the child. Not the slightest quickly repeatable rhythm entered her movements. There was rhythm but it was an admirably long beat, at least a hundred steps apart. She kept it up while the sun lifted higher and higher. It was almost noon before she fell exhausted to the sand.

Works for Percussion by this Composer

4BY4 - Percussion Quartet
Aegean - Percussion Quartet
Corybas - Percussion Quintet
Cloud Folk - Percussion Octet; Piano
Kyoto - Percussion Quintet
Matre's Dance - Percussion Quartet
Planet Damnation for Percussion Ensemble - Timpani; Percussion 12