Works: Sophocles Papavasilopoulos

Blue Airball Rising (2003-2004)

tenor saxophone - Andrew Sterman
cello - Clarice Jensen
amplified/procesed basketball - Sophocles Papavasilopoulos
percussion - Chris Nappi
Matthew Quayle, Peter Flint, Ray Lustig - bounced basketballs
premiered January, 2004 at University Settlement, NYC

click for webcast (courtesy of NewMusicBox.org)

Blue Airball Rising is divided into four quarters (movements) with four interludes. Basketball revels in the vertical realm - the ups and downs of the sport give it its shape. The downs of the sport signify execution and decisiveness. The descending portion of a ball's arc toward the basket or the victorious descent of a player after a brief hang on the rim celebrating a pummeling dunk. Whereas the ups of the game are chock full of potential, expectation, and "hold-your- breath" uncertainty: such as the rising arc of a three-point shot or the the tense fluidity of a player's body lifting itself toward the hoop. As the title opaquely indicates, this piece will dwell on the ups, the uncertainties, and expectant hopes. Many thanks to the players, the basketballers, and to Avian for all their work.

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