Customer Reviews

Songs of Sanctuary

5 star:		(74)
4 star:		(16)
3 star:		(4)
2 star:		(6)
1 star:		(8)

 

 

This album is hard to describe because I havent heard anyting like it. Once could describe it as classical music meets "new age". The closest thing that comes to mind would be Enya.

The music in this album is varied. For myself, I really enjoyed the first 5 songs on the album (hard to say which I like best, perhaps Adiemus or In Caelum Fero??). Several of the songs have a variety of sounds where the music style changes quite a bit (start slow, get faster, and so on).

However the most unique feature of this album is that the words are made up (check out the website). That's right ... the words were chosen to flow with the music. The composer loves the sound of the human voice (what a wonderful instrument!) and uses it well in this album. I find the tunes very relaxing, and listen to them if Im trying to concentrrate (since the words are gibberish, I dont try to translate them).

If you are a big Enya fan, perhaps another Adiemus album, "Adiemus IV: The Eternal Knot" is more your speed since it has a distinctive Celtic flair. Overall this is a very enjoyable album if you enjoy classical new age combinations.

Well, I've read some of the reviews posted about Karl Jenkins and Adiemus and I agree with most of them. Songs of Sanctuary and Cantata Mundi are BRILLIANT albums. The music recalls Enya (the premiere vocal goddess in my opinion,) but is unique in its own way. Karl knows how to throw in the most surprising chords. Miriam Stockley (who has now released a solo album) is a phenomenal vocalist. The LPO play with passion...I can't think how anyone would find these albums repetetive or boring. Adiemus songs are more varied and stylish than any pop music on the market today (and maybe more so than alot of classical albums.) Those who don't like Adimeus should go back to the ol' Britney Spears' stuff. This is music that is universal and powerful. In fact, I bought two copies of Cantata Mundi in case something ever happens to one of them!

I'd never heard anything of Adiemus at all until a few weeks ago. And that's weird because I only listen to the classic radio stations. The first time I heard it was on a plane on the way to my first real holiday in 11 years. What an appropriate way to start it by opening my eyes to something as incredible as this.

Adiemus and the Songs of Sanctuary are terrifically energtic and uplifting. The main instrument in the peculiar, stripped down orchestra is the human voice and the incredibly wide range of emotion the mere sound of it can provoke. The lyrics in the Songs of Sanctuary don't mean anything, they are only phonemes, but not in the style of scat-singing, more of a way of delivering a free-roaming range of emotions rather than a specific point. This is helped along by the abundant freedom of movement sequences between keys and unusual time signatures. The Songs of Sanctuary come across as liberated and adventurous and will no doubt inspire you to just go out and keep going and going until you are far away from where you started. If you even stop at all.

Yes, the songs are exciting and will always keep your attention no matter how many times you listen to them. Composer Karl Jenkins calls the Songs of Sanctuary multi-ethnical and he couldn't be more right. They'll take you to anywhere in the world you want to be. And beyond.

I urge you to go out and by this CD.

For those who have never heard of Adiemus I will give you this warning.

If you are expecting music along the lines of Enya, Enigma or Dead Can Dance you will be extremely disappointed with Adiemus "Songs Of Sanctuary".

Adiemus is more New World/Classical then it is New Age and it does take a listen or two to get use to.

Basically the choral arrangements are outstanding with the lead vocals being provided by Miriam Stockley.

The musical arrangements are also exceptional with the majority having either a european classical or african tribal feel mixed in to make a very powerful yet enoyable melody that is in a category all it's own.

The highlights on "Songs of Sanctuary" are

Adiemus - a very enjoyable song that has been highlighted on many TV commercials

Tintinnabulum - This is a very beautiful song which starts off with and outstanding string instrument arrangement that leads into an almost tribal lulliby with beautiful vocals added on.

In Caelum Fero - This is the highlight of the album with and unbelievable vocal arrangement which highlights Miriam Stockleys range. This song also has a driving beat that makes you feel like your being called to battle.

Overall Adiemus "Songs of Sanctuary" is very, very different and will only be enjoyed by those with and open mind and a thirst for something different.

I will say this that once you have listened and come to love Adiemus you will always love them.

Adiemus will either delight or horrify the listeners ears.

It's that simple.

Adiemus is one of those albums that is meant to be listened to on an overcast day, with a warm fire and a cup of hot libations at your side. It's a collection of songs that is meant to stir the mind and let your imagination climb to new heights...

Karl Jenkins conduction work and the vocal presence of Miriam Stockley blend with the London Philharmonic to produce musical imagry of incredible depth and span.

Notable are the tracks "In Caelum Fero" (to which the reviewer likens it as the background score to a mating flight from Anne McCaffrey's "Dragonriders of Pern" books), and "Kayama", with their soaring range and pounding rythums. Also, the more mellow cut of "Tintinnabulum" with it's soothing choral 'lullaby', is a rich compliment to the rest of the album.

This is a pure guilty pleasure of a collection of songs. Don't get this if you're looking for techincal tinkering or something to compare to the Great Masters of Old... Adiemus stands on its own as a signature CD, and is something that any true music connesuer should have in their collection.

Imagine a wild, windswept night with clouds racing accross the sky and the sea crashing on rocks below.A yacht battles the storm, knowing safety is close at home. Close your eyes, and forget all that the modern world brings. Just be open to the raw sound of the powers of nature...... This album may not suit all, but I challenge anyone with a soul to listen to Track 5, In Caelum Fero, and not feel moved in one way or another.Uplifting is hardly a fit description. If you think you've heard all from the many ads which this music has graced, think again. It's one of the few CDs I've just left on repeat for hours - even better if you're playing it somewhere of special meaning to you, and at full volume. The unique, clever, challenging vocal patterns and underlying key changes bring to this music something which even many classical "greats" lack - pure emotion, in all its forms. The composers, on the sleeve notes, describe Sanctuary as not only a religious place, but somewhere to loose yourself. Whatever trials or problems you face seem to fade away when reminded that there is a way to bring peace, though the music is not always peaceful. The orchestration is superb, and the amazing vocals of Miriam Stockley are not quickly forgotten. So listen, enjoy, and head back to that clifftop, tasting the spray, watching the stars hide behind scurrying clouds, and remember that in all the world's man made problems, nature has the last word.....

I first became aware of Adiemus after purchasing the Pure Moods I CD (the first track of this CD, "Adiemus", is track 08). Amazed at how the vocals seemed as if the whole of a small nation were singing, I purchased this CD, and Adiemus quickly became my favourite group -- of any genre of music. Potential Adiemus fans and collection builders should begin here.

Although all the songs feature extended phonetic vocals, the songs vary in intensity and fervor. "Adiemus," "In Caelum Fero," the heightening-in-crescendo "Cantus Iteratus" and "Kayama" are among the more bombastic songs. Complementing (not contrasting) these songs are the more mellow "Cantus Insolitus," "Amate Adea" (the best song on the CD, IMO), and "Hymn," the perfect 'benediction' of sorts for the collection of music. The other tracks hover in between these two distinctions.

If intensity is what you seek, your search ends with Adiemus. Wherever you want to go, their music will take you there -- and surely beyond.

Karl Jenkins, Miriam Stockley, and Mary Carewe, the trio that make up Adiemus on their debut release, make magic with this CD. The opening track "Adiemus" lifts the soul, and it just goes on from there. "In Calum Fero" is an amazing piece of choral virtuosity, spanning powerful sections with soft, almost religious-sounding sections seamlessly. "Tintinnabulum" starts out slowly, but in the chorus of its ten minutes and fifty-seven seconds builds up to a rushing climax. Another high point in this collection is the "Cantus Inaequalis", which shows off Miriam's extensive low range, and "Kayama", which is similar to "Adiemus". Listening to this CD, I can truly say it is the rhythm of the soul.

This CD is great! With my choral group I have sung many of these songs. My two favorites are Adiemus and Kayama. We have sung Adiemus for the past 2 years at our last concert of the year. Every time we practice/sing that song, I get chill bumps, Its an amazing feeling. Kayma is also incredible! Even though it is "out of the norm", I love it! If you are thinking about buying it, do, its incredible!

we are children from the above school, one of our teachers bought the album songs of sancrury and now Adiemus is the title and ending song for every assembly we all love it and it is very catchy we all are hoping to get a copy of this cd for each year group soon and our year group -yr 6 have even started lyrical daces to it, to the creator we give appluse for such a phnominal song and we will listen for the whole of our school life

signed class 6B age 11 Great Barr Primary school