Set in two continuous movements, Hatzis's In the Fire of Conflict features live cello and percussion parts that are performed with rap music in the digital audio part, sourced from American rapper Steve Henry a.k.a. 'Bugsy H.', of the Christian rap group Poetik Disciples. The two live instruments weave constantly around the rap lyrics, often drawing melodic contours from the prosodic contours of the spoken text.
Born in Greece, educated in the United States and a Canadian citizen since 1985, composer Christos Hatzis (b.1953) is becoming widely known as a leading figure in contemporary classical music. His works are performed and broadcast throughout the world, and their frequent combination of a powerful spiritual foundation with an immediately accessible appeal has made a deep emotional impact upon audiences and performers alike.
