From the Vanishing Gardens of Eden is inspired by the rapidly disappearing rain forests, which at this rate of destruction will soon be but a memory. It is also inspired by a much older memory of our mythical forests, those "Gardens of Eden" inhabited by centaurs and nymphs and countless other magical beings, which were for many eons an integral and inseparable part of our psyche.
At a superficial level the idea of a "forest" led to certain textural choices like the animal sounds used in the tape part, but more fundamentally, it led to a particular kind of counterpoint which is quite complex within the context of the viola ensemble, but simple and fairly landscaped when heard in conjunction with the tape. Thus the listener can either focus on the contrapuntal complexity of the viola forest or, alternatively, immerse himself or herself into the overall effect – the latter would be the equivalent of flying over a forest, enjoying the long view.
From the Vanishing Gardens of Eden... is a startling marriage of viola ensemble to computer tape of such exquisite melody and texture that only the genius of Christos Hatzis could bring all the parts together without any imposing on the others.
