The Mega4 Meta4 is the fifth and final piece of Earthrise, a pentalogy of electroacoustic works which comprises Nadir, Orbiting Garden, The Temptation of St Anthony and Crucifix. With the exception of the opening pentatonic theme, The Mega4 Meta4 is constructed entirely from quoted material (mainly from the four earlier pieces of Earthrise and from Albinoni's Adagio in G minor for Organ and Strings.) The quoted material is used as a starting point. Once stated, it is developed, repeated and juxtaposed on top of other, sometimes non-compatible material in such a way that the overall effect is that of dynamic pluralism and constant motion in opposite directions. The Mega4 Meta4 brings all the aesthetic and technical concerns of the preceding pieces to their logical conclusion.
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.
