Karl Jenkins Requiem

Karl Jenkins (Composer), Karl Jenkins (Conductor), Adiemus Wind and Brass (Performer), West Kazakhstan Philharmonic Orchestra (Orchestra), Nicole Tibbels (Performer) | Format: Audio CD

Product Details

• Performer: Adiemus Wind and Brass, Nicole Tibbels
• Orchestra: West Kazakhstan Philharmonic Orchestra
• Conductor: Karl Jenkins
• Composer: Karl Jenkins
• Audio CD (May 10, 2005)
• SPARS Code: DDD
• Number of Discs: 1
• Label: EMI Classics
• ASIN: B0007S67K2
• In-Print Editions: MP3 Download
• Average Customer Review: 4.4 out of 5 stars  See all reviews (17 customer reviews)
• Amazon Best Sellers Rank: #13,804 in Music (See Top 100 in Music)
  • #33 in Music > Classical > Forms & Genres > Requiems, Elegies & Tombeau

Editorial Reviews

Karl Jenkins, the mastermind of the Adiemus project and The Armed Man (A Mass For Peace) has the gift of composing music that speaks to a very wide audience. This is a highly interesting work that draws on Western and Oriental traditions. Requiem is a mass for the souls of the dead set to texts in both Latin and Japanese, highlighting the cyclical nature of life, death and rebirth. EMI Classics. 2005.

Customer Reviews

Most Helpful Customer Reviews

20 of 21 people found the following review helpful:

5.0 out of 5 stars Pieces that work surprisingly well, November 16, 2005

By 

Samer T Ismail "SF & classical music fan" (Danbury, CT) - See all my reviews
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This review is from: Karl Jenkins Requiem (Audio CD)

Let me start by saying that after endless exposure to Karl Jenkins' most famous work (the "A Diamond is Forever" commercial theme), I doubted I'd ever like anything he wrote. I am glad to say I was mistaken.

Jenkins' Requiem is without question a modern work, although its mold is probably a bit closer to that of Britten's War Requiem, or even Herbert Howells' "Hymnus Paradisi", than to other modern Requiems, such as those of Fauré, Duruflé, or Rutter. Jenkins' use of haikus in Japanese--and his intertwining of the haikus with the text near the end--add an extra dimension to the work, even though those movements have a substantially different sound than the rest of the work. Even the "Dies Irae," with its unusual orchestration (I won't spoil the surprise), is a success.

The fact that there are no well-known names here doesn't matter; the orchestral and choral sounds are both excellent. Better still, rather than making this the sole work on the CD, EMI adds "In These Stones Horizons Sing," a work sung partly in Welsh, which rounds out this disc with more marvelous melodies, in particular, the ending of the third track, "Gray". [Please note that the track listing above is incorrect.]

Fans of Jenkins' music will definitely want this disc. I look forward to hearing more of his music myself.

21 of 23 people found the following review helpful:

5.0 out of 5 stars A requiem for th 21st century, August 3, 2005

By 

FPB (Ann Arbor Michigan) - See all my reviews
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This review is from: Karl Jenkins Requiem (Audio CD)

This requiem is Karl Jenkins in his usual form and is extremely satisfying to the listener who loves the classic 3 requiems of Faure , Durufle and Mozart but is also appreciative of 21st century classical music and Karl Jenkin's sublime yet arresting approach to any composition.He remains the most approachable of the 'modern' composers with one beautiful work after another.

8 of 9 people found the following review helpful:

5.0 out of 5 stars A further expansion of a talented composer, January 31, 2007

By 

Glenn Budlow "gmbsparky" (Seattle, WA) - See all my reviews
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This review is from: Karl Jenkins Requiem (Audio CD)

I guess you could call me a "number one" fan of Karl Jenkins music. I find his music uplifting and soul-stirring. After a few listenings to Requiem, I quickly found so much to enjoy out of the variety of tracks.

For consumers that are only aware of Diamond Music, Jenkins has composed a whole collection of works, five to be exact, that are under the Adiemus title. You must, I repeat, must expand your collection to include some if not all of these titles, particularly Adiemus I, II & IV. These are such emotionally charged works, fashioned with a chorus of female singers and soloists and full orchestra. Do a quick search and you'll learn more about this themed works. But I digress....

Requiem is unique in that the composer uses a full chorus including male voices and a baritone soloist in the short work, "In These Stones..." This is the first time I'm aware that Jenkins embraces the SATB structure. What an exceptional inclusion to his body of works! I've picked out a few favorites including Introit, Dies Irae, and In Paradisum. However, Pie Jesu shines as a gorgeous heart felt work that effortlessly soars between child soloist, soprano soloist and chorus. Guaranteed to bring tears to your eyes. Finally, the short work that closes this CD, "In These Stones Horizons Sing", calls to mind Ralph Vaughn Williams and a touch of Glass. As a singer in many choruses, I found myself itching to bring this short piece to the attention of various choral directors. It conveys such a powerful quality, visions of Celtic settings arise in my mind. If you are a choral singer, I assure you, you will find something to inspire you. Enjoy Requiem and look into Jenkins other works as well. You won't be sorry.