Customer Reviews

Cantata Mundi

5 star:		(22)
4 star:		(5)
3 star:		(0)
2 star:		(1)
1 star:		(0)

 

 

I have concluded that people who are forced to listen to the music they might not voluntary listen to ought not to farm out their opinions to the rest of us. By that I mean, I have read some merciless criticisms of Karl Jenkins and Adiemus' work on these very pages by the Amazon.Com gods. In stark contrast, I have read more evenhanded reviews of those who have purchased Karl Jenkins and Adiemus' music because they are fans of Jenkins' work or were turned on to his music by others who already had one or more of the Jenkins - Adiemus CD's.

Personally, I think the man is a genius. I have heard music from his CD's that I have never heard anywhere else by any other musician/composer. There simply is no one to compare Karl Jenkins or Adiemus to, there are, however, many who copy his sound with some degree of success, but it cannot and will never compare to Jenkins' work.

If you are not a fan of the mediocre drivel we are all forced to hear these days on the Top 40 charts, then you are bound to like Jenkins music. If you are one of the people who feel that the wrong people get Grammy's every year, or have grown weary of one hit wonders and whiny singers and singer-songwriters, then you will probably like any of the Jenkins - Adiemus CD's.

To those self-proclaimed critics of Amazon.Com, please try to keep in mind that the music you review is just that, music ... not some major piece of legislation that needs to be voted down for the sake of national security.

When the entire lot of one hit whiners have come and gone Karl Jenkins will still be around ... that I have no doubt about.

I am a classical music collector finding myself being intrigued with the invention of ways to bring classical music to today's audiences. Karl Jenkins is a thoroughly trained classical composer with an ear toward tomorrow. With his tasteful use of electronic overdubs,and his wonderful, sensitive knowledge of early and modern music, he has put together a marvelous stepping stone from Khachaturian into the world of Enya and ethnic genres. It's a wonderful discovery. Try it! You'll LOVE it!

This is quite simply the most awesome CD that I have ever listened to. A classical collection of varied styles with a decidedly choral feel, it's perfect construction and delivery gives it an instantly accessible, contemporary feel. Majestic, powerful and invocative; and yet haunting, sombre and reflective in equal measures. Beautifully melodic arrangements played wonderfully by the London Philharmonic Orchestra interwoven with the stunning vocal talents of Miriam Stockley (impressively multi-tracked), one of the UK's finest singers. Karl Jenkins is surely one of the most talented composers alive today. If you like music - buy it immediately.

Two years ago, I purchased Adiemus I, Songs of Sanctuary because I was intrigued by the hybrid of classic European music and vocals with the dynamic compositions of ethnic songs, rhythm, and vocals. This album reminded me of haunting scenes and landscapes in Nothern Europe I visited, and within moments took me to the sunny extremes of an African paradise. I enjoyed this CD so entirely, I purchased Adiemus III, Dances of Time, last year, another extraordinary masterpiece, bringing the worlds of music together with grace, and life. But of all three of these albums, Adiemus II, Cantada Mundi, I believe, is Jenkins' best work. The music is more symphonic than the first (which is carried through in Dances of Time), but there is more depth to this ablum that I cannot explain. It is an awakening to listen to this music, and Jenkins' has truly captured the meaning of life with his music. Also, wonderful vocals by Miriam Stockley, one of the finest singers in this world.

Many of us form mental images when we listen to music. When I listen to Adiemus, I sometimes
see [apologies to composer Karl Jenkins and primary vocalist Miriam Stockley]
National-Geographic-style Maori\Masai\Zulu women dancing around and singing in their
villages while the London Symphony Orchestra lingers in a nearby glade. Composer-genius
Jenkins has managed to meld ethnic-style vocalizations, many of them exuberant and\or
hauntingly beautiful, with rich Western European orchestrations in the late Romantic-to-now
style. The result is a unique genre that is instantly recognizable and can be downright infectious.

Fellow Amazonian cannot go wrong choosing any of the first 4 Adiemus efforts, but my personal
favorite is Cantata Mundi. Followed closely by Adiemus IV [substitute leprechauns for those
Zulu singers, although, come to think of it, they are there too - go figure for a CD that is based
upon Celtic legends], and just ever so slightly behind, Songs of Sanctuary and Dances of Time.
All will delight lovers of original, beautiful music.

This is the most incredible album. I am a classical nerd and thanks to this CD I learned orchestration in high school without being taught. I especially love the first one, Song of the Spirit, Song of the Plains, and Cantilena. For any of my peers in the classical world let me say - this isn't "cheesy new age"... there are french horns and trombones and bassoons and all kinds of other very non-new age postromantic classical orchestral type instruments. I love this. :-) By the way, the best way to listen to it is have it on in the background and let the repetition seep into your brain.

Karl Jenkins has done it once again with "Cantata Mundi", after his amazing first collection "Songs of Sanctuary." This time Jenkins, combined with the incredible vocal range of Miriam Stockley and the London Philaharmonic orchestra, give an even more powerful performance than before. Wind instruments, brass, and strings serve as the supporting cast to Stockley's beautiful, rhythmic, and haunting song. I like it a lot. Out.

This isn't a criticism of Jenkin's particular genre of music. Accepting it for what it is, I find Cantata Mundi to be much more imaginative and exciting than, say, 'Eternal Knot'. This is more 'symphonic' and the music shows a greater level of effort and skill. The Canti: 'Song of the Odyssey' and 'Song of Invocation', and Chorale V (Arama Ivi) are my personal favourtites. We know and love Jenkins for his fantastic chords and here he orchestrates some haunting and facinating ones. The feeling is somewhat netherworldly. The drums used often depict a 'march', though not in the usual sense (no 3/4 time strutting). It's more traditional...though which tradition remains amorphous, and that works. What you get is the feeling that something is in motion, at times shrouded in a mystical haze...something vast! As for Miriam Stockley, the primary voice behind it all, her skill, not to mention her talent, is what makes the whole thing work.

The pronunciation of the few 'words' (if they're actually words) .....or should I say the 'vocalisations' sound a little too 'Californian' (if you can forgive the snobbery) when paired with the unmistakeable ethnic flavour of much of Jenkins' compositions, but maybe that's just him. He is, after all, unique.

Just about the time you think nothing can be better than Adiemus:Songs of Sanctuary, Karl Jenkins and Miriam Stockley produce this cd... a haunting, mystical, profound collection of some of the most significant music of our time. Sometimes intense, sometimes ethereal, always astonishing.

This is my first experience listening to Karl Jenkins' music and I would give this CD 10 stars. I got the CD the day before taking a 500 mile trip and just took it out of the box and placed it on my dash. I had bought the CD for cut#8 Chorale IV which I heard on a cable TV New Age music station. I listened to them all and pretty much skipped cut #1 Cantus-Song of Tears because it started off a little boring.

Boy was I wrong! Cut#1 is possibly one of the most startlingly beautiful pieces EVER written. It takes a minute to get going, but it is breathtaking. It caused me to gasp "Wow!" and raised the hair on my arms each time I listened to it. The gorgeous payoff of this piece comes in at 6 minute 51 seconds. As another reviewer said, they used this piece in a live show and I was wondering as I listened to it why someone wouldn't put it to that great use.

This music not only gives you mind pictures, it can transcend distance OR time. I felt myself standing on a cliff in the Himalayas looking down across space and time. Incredible! Karl Jenkins is definitely an unhearalded musical genius.

Cut #14 Cantilena is what I would like played at my funeral if I go having lived a truly good life (which I have.) It is a fitting denouement of a good life. Same for #15 Elegia.

I had not read the jewelbox info before i played this CD and thought I heard Miriam Stockley. Great mix, these two artists! She is vastly talented and the Africa, Latin, Classical mix that she infuses makes this CD so addictive, I listened to it on two trips, over 2,000 miles! I will be buying more Karl Jenkins music.