Customer Reviews

Live

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

 

 

Adiemus is an incredible group, and this album has some of their best works. My personal favorite is Cu Chullain. If you have their previous four albums, though, then this might not be worth buying. From the sound bytes provided by Amazon.com, the vocalizations are the same as in the album versions. The instrumentation varies a little, as in the saxophone solo in The Wooing of Etain, and the percussion does seem to be a little stronger -- or at least clearer. So if you're a collector, or if this is your first taste of Adiemus, then go for it. Otherwise, stick to their previous albums. I'd recommend Adiemus IV: The Eternal Knot; a full five of these tracks come from that album.

They have that certain sound from the very first note...unmistakably the composer and music that has made an impact on the Music Industry ~ Karl Jenkins "ADIEMUS"---where does this original sound that has all cultures working together in harmony belong...is the genre CLASSICAL...NEWAGE...INTERNATIONAL...or even EASY LISTENING---more radio stations today are featuring their many selections, many of us are taking them for granted, after discovering what joy and mysteries prevail .

Not an avid fan of LIVE recordings...this seems to work well as each performance stands own its own merit, because of that it's very enjoyable and entertaining...much credit goes to the engineers who worked on this project, great job...now let's get to the stand outs and highlights of the album(in the next paragraph).

My stand outs are ~ "CU CHULLAIN", harmony excels with blending of orchestration that will captivate anyone in the "doldrums", picks up your spirits...Big Time---"CONNLA'S WELL", catchy arrangement sets the mood and tone, beautiful solos by Pamela
Thorby(Gemshorn/Recorders) and Nigel Hitchcock(Soprano Saxophone)---"CERIDWEN'S CURSE", has a tropical flavor, strings and percussion set the tempo, with Finnish Adiemus Singers weaving a tapestry of counterpoints throughout the passages---"DAWN DANCING", completely mesmerizing opening, string section and recorder play tag as each takes a turn, strong percussion comes to the surface with singers sounding off in reply.

Now for the highlights ~ "ADIEMUS", can't get away from this main theme that started it all, distinctive voices, percussion and orchestra bring back all the memories---"IN CAELUM
FERO", opens with brief notes, percussion comes to the surface and then Adiemus harmony takes over, while the constant beat of percussion drills haunting themes into the picture,
breathtaking moments come to light---"DOS A DOS", anyone for a hoe-down (almost Copland style), everyone gets into the act from Singers, Orchestra and Soloist, audience joins into a hand clapping spree, wish I could have been there...sounded like a lot of fun...what a wonderful way to end the concert and album...gotta love it!

Total Time: 67:53 on 12 Tracks ~ Higher Octave OMCD-11476 ~ (2002)

I'm a dancer with a school in Singapore and recently, we used track five of this CD: cu chullian as the song for our dance in a concert and I must say, no matter how many times I've listened to this song, I never got the least bit tired of it. It never failed to inspire me again and again to dance. We used "adiemus" as the name for our dance to depict joy and hope expressed through the adversities faced in recent history of the world. I find tracks "Adiemus" and "Cu chullian" extremely inspirational and it is really symbolic that our dance "adiemus" really did draw our dance group together in the face of our adversities.

Karl Jenkins' Adiemus project is justifiably credited with launching a new classical genre of music that fuses the ancient, the classical and the contemporary. Adiemus Live was recorded live on March 16, 2001 at St. David's Hall, Cardiff, England. This magnificent performance was commissioned by Opus Television and includes a superbly impressive selection of Adiemus classics. Flawlessly recorded and enthusiastically recommended for Adiemus fans everywhere, Adiemus Live includes: Adiemus (3:59); In Caelum Fero (7:14); Kayama (5:39); Cantus Insolitus (5:45); Cu Chullain (5:57); The Wooing Of Etain (4:39); Connla's Well (4:14); Hymn (4:41); The Dagda (6:10); Ceridwen's Curse (4:57); Dawn Dancing (3:25); Dos A Dos (4:49).

What an amazing CD! The title song is breathtaking. Before I got the CD, I was afraid that the tracks would be repetitive, but they are all so beautiful, and well worth the money.

Just a quick comment, this music sounds like a Musak (i.e. elevator music) version of what could be some powerful, very inspirational "world" music. Wish they had made it less "easy listening". Still, inspiring stuff but it could have been much better. Check out the sound track of the movie, "Mighty Joe Young" (if you can find it) as an example. This has all the power and inspiration of Adiemus without the saccarin.

This album is quite simply the best I have ever heared. After watching the television program (recorded at the same time as the album) on S4C (a welsh language tv channel) I knew I had to have the album. Recorded St Davids hall, Cardiff, WALES (not England!!!) made this a special moment for Karl Jenkins being in front of his home crowd, you could see the passion in his face which has passed on into the music. The Finnish singers have a sound like no other, well similar to Enya... no better, and Miriam Stockley stirring voice brings it all together. When I heard the first song "Adiemus" (featured on an airlines commercial) I was mesmerized, it's a great start and you aren't let down throughout the following songs. I think I will need to buy another copy as i'm sure that I have worn down my copy!!! Track two "In Caelum Fero" is simply outstanding. This album is my first of the series and will certainly not be the last. Adiemus, meaning "we will draw near" is a well chosen name as they will draw near to your heart and senses.

I'm a dancer with a school in Singapore and recently, we used track five of this CD: cu chullian as the song for our dance in a concert and I must say, no matter how many times I've listened to this song, I never got the least bit tired of it. It never failed to inspire me again and again to dance. We used "adiemus" as the name for our dance to depict joy and hope expressed through the adversities faced in recent history of the world. I find tracks "Adiemus" and "Cu chullian" extremely inspiritional and it is really symbolic that our dance "adiemus" really did draw our dance group together in the face of our adversities.