From: http://arthurrorris.com/
Introducing Echoes
The CD Echoes is a cycle of seven songs that I have composed based on the work of the famous Greek Poet and Nobel finalist Nikiforos Vrettakos.
The somber strains of the first track, Distomo, reflect on one of the worst war time atrocities in Central Greece near the historic site of Delphi, where the German SS summarily executed more than 200 men, women and children as it was retreating in 1944. Another piece, The Earth’s Poem, is a cry for the environment ahead of its time and A Smaller World reflects the poet’s deep commitment to peace and disarmament, East and West.
This year, 2012 marks 100 years since Vrettakos’ birth and is being marked by festivals and other events in his honour, both in Greece and abroad, including in Australia. This work, is dedicated to the memory of his life and work and to the people of Distomo and elsewhere in the world where the struggle for peace, justice and humanity continues today just as fervently as it did in the 1930s and 40s, hence the title, Echoes.
This work would not have been possible without the extraordinary generosity and contributions of a number of people and in particular the outstanding vocalist Anthea Sidiropoulos, who committed to and supported this project from the very beginning, Kostas Vrettakos who allowed this project to get off the ground with permission to use his father’s poetry, Aggelika Korovessi who generously allowed the alteration and use of her work, National Resistance Monument, Greece 1997 on the cover, cellist Kaija Upenieks, guitarist Ann Lehmann, mastering engineer Ed Lee, Gaye Burrows, Nick Canosa, and of course my wife Louise and extended family whose encouragement and support knows no boundaries.
Arthur Rorris
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