Westlake, Nigel: Omphalo Centric Lecture f. 2 Marimbas (Partitur + Stimmen)

The title comes from a painting by Paul Klee - the direct & centered simplicity of which was an inspiration to me during the writing of this piece. The piece also owes much to African Balofon (or xylophone) music, with its persistant ostinati, cross - rhythms & variations on simple melodic fragments. Like African music it seeks to celebrate life through rhythm, energy & movement. It was originally composed for the Sydney based percussion quartet Synergy.

Omphalo Centric Lecture has recently been revised for 2 marimbas (4 players), log drum, shaker & splash cymbal in a new 2007 edition, edited by percussion legend Michael Askill.