Sysyphus

Song infobox
Name = Sysyphus

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Artist = Pink Floyd
Album = Ummagumma
Released = October 1969
track_no = 1-4
Recorded = March 1969
Genre = Psychedelic rock
Avant-garde
Length = 13:28
Writer = Richard Wright
Label = Harvest Records
Producer = Norman Smith
next = Grantchester Meadows
next_no = 5"Sysyphus" is an avant-garde, instrumental four part suite written by progressive rock band Pink Floyd's keyboardist Richard Wright. The song is regarded as a very experimental and psychedelic song, with parts II and IV sounding almost as nonsense. 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.

Rick Wright's instrumental was named after a character in Greek mythology, more usually spelt "Sisyphus" (Mabbett 1995). Orthographic differences aside, the song is clearly 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.

Part I consists of an overture featuring a tympani and Mellotron chords resembling an orchestra. The introduction is followed by a piano solo that dissolves into a raucous, dissonant performance as Sispyhus struggles up the hill. Part II 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 III, as Sisyphus reaches the top of the hill; this section features a soft keyboard and organ piece with birds chirping. This is followed immediately by Part IV's thunderous orchestra crescendo, representing the boulder falling back down the hillside. The theme of Part I resurfaces as the end, indicating that Sisyphus is pushing the large rock up the hill once again.

On CD, Part I was split into two halves, labelled "Part I" and "Part II". Consequently, the original Part II became "Part III", while Parts III and IV became "Part IV".

Credits

*Richard Wright - Farfisa organ, Mellotron, Piano, bass guitar, timpani, percussion

References

*Andy Mabbett, "The Complete Guide to the Music of Pink Floyd" (1995), p. 27f.