Mystirion Xenon, (Greek for ‘Strange Mystery') is the perfect work for secondary-school age choirs and above who are interested in performing a contemporary setting of a Greek Orthodox Christmas chant. The performance of the work can be augmented with optional digital audio that contains exotic sounds of Middle-Eastern ululations and Tibetan overtone singing. The work is primarily structured on canonic lines between the voices, which are layered into captivating organum-like textures. This work is a fascinating blend of old and new that choirs and audiences are sure to enjoy.
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.
