While composing Arctic Dreams 1 (PE103), Christos Hatzis was invited to be the Canadian composer-in-residence for the 2003 UNESCO Songbridge Project, an international gathering of several children's choirs from around the world. The project guidelines recommended that the composition have a theme particular to the country of the choir's (and corresponding composer's) residence and that an opportunity should be included for active participation by the audience. This evolution of Arctic Dreams 1 was the result, with its central, constantly repeating melody, easily learned by an audience, and the New-Age-like optimism and hope with which the work overall is imbued. The audio component of the work features predominately Inuit throat singers and ayaya singers, establishing a strong connection with the Canadian northern experience.
A short text was added to the main melody referring to the northern lights:
"Disturbing the darkness, the endless night: a miracle of light" as well as iterations of the word ‘light' in various languages reflecting the kaleidoscopic makeup of the participating choirs.
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.
