Released on Sony’s Orchard label, the album comprises six movements of a work by Xifarias about children impacted by conflicts around the world
Peter Xifaras is a New York-based composer, guitarist, orchestrator, and producer, whose music has topped Billboard’s Classical and Crossover charts.
His latest release on Sony’s subsidiary label, The Orchard, is a collection of six short contemporary classical movements under the overarching title: “Children Of Conflict.”
Performed by the Czech National Symphony Orchestra (CNSO) and conductor Marek Štilec, the piece aims to raise awareness about the plight of children around the globe due to conflicts.
As the press release explains, “Children Of Conflict” is the message of countless innocent children and young people across the world, who suffer each day and are at the mercy of corrupt dictators and governments.
Driving Xifaras’ writing and recording of this work were the ongoing conflicts in Afghanistan following the Taliban takeover of the country in August 2021 and heightened human rights crises, as well as the Russian invasion of Ukraine and its impact on families and livelihoods.
The six movements of “Children Of Conflict” are Prologue, Fathers Lament, Lost Innocence, Desolation, Mothers Lament, and Epilogue.
Each movement also has a corresponding video that reinforces the message of the music. The videos can be watched on YouTube here.
“In the world tonight, millions of children are begging for help,” Xifaras recently posted to Facebook. Each year 10.6 million will die before reaching their 5th birthday.”
“I hope someday the human condition will be focused on providing equal economic access to all humans so that we can enjoy and revel in our achievements as a race in science, engineering, the arts and music, where poverty and destruction were only memories of a past world,” Xifaras told FnB World News in an interview. “Hopefully a dream to aspire to.”
“Children Of Conflict” has also received a nomination from the Hollywood Music in Media Awards in the classical category. To purchase and listen to the album, click here.