Sysyphus
Encyclopedia
"Sysyphus" is an avant-garde
, instrumental four part suite written and performed by rock band Pink Floyd
's keyboardist Richard Wright
. The song is featured on his portion of the studio half of Ummagumma
(and is the song that opens the studio album). The track was occasionally performed live in 1970.
Richard Wright's instrumental was named after a character in Greek mythology
, usually spelled "Sisyphus
". Orthographic differences aside, the song is a musical interpretation of the Sisyphean challenge. Wright's portrayal of Sisyphus
pushing the rock up a steep hill in Hades is evident in the slow almost droning parts of the song. "The Myth of Sisyphus
" is also a well-known essay by French existentialist philosopher and author Albert Camus.
Part one consists of an overture featuring timpani
and Mellotron
chords resembling an orchestra. This segues into a piano solo that dissolves into a raucous, dissonant performance as Sisyphus struggles up the hill. Part two features a piano having its strings plucked and strummed alongside percussion and tape effects of sped-up voices. Brief moments of musical calm appear in part three, as Sisyphus reaches the top of the hill; this section features a soft keyboard and organ piece with birds chirping. This lull is immediately followed by part four; a thunderous orchestral crescendo, representing the boulder falling back down the hillside. The theme of part one resurfaces as the end, indicating that Sisyphus is pushing the large rock up the hill once more.
On compact disc
, part one was split into two halves, labeled "Part I" and "Part II". Consequently, the original part two became "Part III", while parts three and four became "Part IV".
It was performed in concert just four times by Pink Floyd, and the only live recording of this song is from 11 February 1970, at Birmingham Town Hall
, England, which circulates within the bootleg trading communities.
The work is mentioned as being used to accompany Salomé
's dance in the biography of Clive Barker
.
Avant-garde
Avant-garde means "advance guard" or "vanguard". The adjective form is used in English to refer to people or works that are experimental or innovative, particularly with respect to art, culture, and politics....
, instrumental four part suite written and performed by rock band Pink Floyd
Pink Floyd
Pink Floyd were an English rock band that achieved worldwide success with their progressive and psychedelic rock music. Their work is marked by the use of philosophical lyrics, sonic experimentation, innovative album art, and elaborate live shows. Pink Floyd are one of the most commercially...
's keyboardist Richard Wright
Richard Wright (musician)
Richard William Wright was an English pianist, keyboardist and songwriter, best known for his career with Pink Floyd. Wright's richly textured keyboard layers were a vital ingredient and a distinctive characteristic of Pink Floyd's sound...
. The song is featured on his portion of the studio half of Ummagumma
Ummagumma
Ummagumma is a double album by English progressive rock band Pink Floyd, released in 1969 by Harvest and EMI in the United Kingdom and Harvest and Capitol in the United States...
(and is the song that opens the studio album). The track was occasionally performed live in 1970.
Richard Wright's instrumental was named after a character in Greek mythology
Greek mythology
Greek mythology is the body of myths and legends belonging to the ancient Greeks, concerning their gods and heroes, the nature of the world, and the origins and significance of their own cult and ritual practices. They were a part of religion in ancient Greece...
, usually spelled "Sisyphus
Sisyphus
In Greek mythology Sisyphus was a king punished by being compelled to roll an immense boulder up a hill, only to watch it roll back down, and to repeat this throughout eternity...
". Orthographic differences aside, the song is a musical interpretation of the Sisyphean challenge. Wright's portrayal of Sisyphus
Sisyphus
In Greek mythology Sisyphus was a king punished by being compelled to roll an immense boulder up a hill, only to watch it roll back down, and to repeat this throughout eternity...
pushing the rock up a steep hill in Hades is evident in the slow almost droning parts of the song. "The Myth of Sisyphus
The Myth of Sisyphus
The Myth of Sisyphus is a philosophical essay by Albert Camus. It comprises about 120 pages and was published originally in 1942 in French as Le Mythe de Sisyphe; the English translation by Justin O'Brien followed in 1955....
" is also a well-known essay by French existentialist philosopher and author Albert Camus.
Part one consists of an overture featuring timpani
Timpani
Timpani, or kettledrums, are musical instruments in the percussion family. A type of drum, they consist of a skin called a head stretched over a large bowl traditionally made of copper. They are played by striking the head with a specialized drum stick called a timpani stick or timpani mallet...
and Mellotron
Mellotron
The Mellotron is an electro-mechanical, polyphonic tape replay keyboard originally developed and built in Birmingham, England in the early 1960s. It superseded the Chamberlin Music Master, which was the world's first sample-playback keyboard intended for music...
chords resembling an orchestra. This segues into a piano solo that dissolves into a raucous, dissonant performance as Sisyphus struggles up the hill. Part two features a piano having its strings plucked and strummed alongside percussion and tape effects of sped-up voices. Brief moments of musical calm appear in part three, as Sisyphus reaches the top of the hill; this section features a soft keyboard and organ piece with birds chirping. This lull is immediately followed by part four; a thunderous orchestral crescendo, representing the boulder falling back down the hillside. The theme of part one resurfaces as the end, indicating that Sisyphus is pushing the large rock up the hill once more.
On compact disc
Compact Disc
The Compact Disc is an optical disc used to store digital data. It was originally developed to store and playback sound recordings exclusively, but later expanded to encompass data storage , write-once audio and data storage , rewritable media , Video Compact Discs , Super Video Compact Discs ,...
, part one was split into two halves, labeled "Part I" and "Part II". Consequently, the original part two became "Part III", while parts three and four became "Part IV".
It was performed in concert just four times by Pink Floyd, and the only live recording of this song is from 11 February 1970, at Birmingham Town Hall
Birmingham Town Hall
Birmingham Town Hall is a Grade I listed concert and meeting venue in Victoria Square, Birmingham, England. It was created as a home for the Birmingham Triennial Music Festival established in 1784, the purpose of which was to raise funds for the General Hospital, after St Philip's Church became...
, England, which circulates within the bootleg trading communities.
The work is mentioned as being used to accompany Salomé
Salome (play)
Salome is a tragedy by Oscar Wilde.The original 1891 version of the play was in French. Three years later an English translation was published...
's dance in the biography of Clive Barker
Clive Barker
Clive Barker is an English author, film director and visual artist best known for his work in both fantasy and horror fiction. Barker came to prominence in the mid-1980s with a series of short stories which established him as a leading young horror writer...
.
Personnel
- Richard WrightRichard Wright (musician)Richard William Wright was an English pianist, keyboardist and songwriter, best known for his career with Pink Floyd. Wright's richly textured keyboard layers were a vital ingredient and a distinctive characteristic of Pink Floyd's sound...
— FarfisaFarfisaFarfisa is a manufacturer of electronics based in Osimo, Italy.The Farfisa brand name is commonly associated with a series of compact electronic organs, and later, a series of multi-timbral synthesizers. At the height of its production, Farfisa operated three factories to produce instruments, in...
, MellotronMellotronThe Mellotron is an electro-mechanical, polyphonic tape replay keyboard originally developed and built in Birmingham, England in the early 1960s. It superseded the Chamberlin Music Master, which was the world's first sample-playback keyboard intended for music...
, pianoPianoThe piano is a musical instrument played by means of a keyboard. It is one of the most popular instruments in the world. Widely used in classical and jazz music for solo performances, ensemble use, chamber music and accompaniment, the piano is also very popular as an aid to composing and rehearsal...
, bass guitarBass guitarThe bass guitar is a stringed instrument played primarily with the fingers or thumb , or by using a pick....
, timpaniTimpaniTimpani, or kettledrums, are musical instruments in the percussion family. A type of drum, they consist of a skin called a head stretched over a large bowl traditionally made of copper. They are played by striking the head with a specialized drum stick called a timpani stick or timpani mallet...
, drumsDrum kitA drum kit is a collection of drums, cymbals and often other percussion instruments, such as cowbells, wood blocks, triangles, chimes, or tambourines, arranged for convenient playing by a single person ....
, percussionPercussion instrumentA percussion instrument is any object which produces a sound when hit with an implement or when it is shaken, rubbed, scraped, or otherwise acted upon in a way that sets the object into vibration...
, sped-up vocals