Customer Reviews

Vocalise: Music by Karl Jenkins

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

 

 

As vocalist for the lead track as well as Aria and several other tracks throughout this album, I am dissapointed that I did not get the recognition I was promised by Jenkins. However, I think the album is beautiful and I am pleased that I was involved.

Wonderful, wonderful music. Any Adiemus fans should get this.

Three classical pieces arranged for singing (Beethoven, Villa-Lobos, Rakhmaninov), all nicely done. The two last are some of the most beautiful melodies ever written - it seems almost logical that Adiemus should make their own versions of them. Maybe we can expect more of the same.
The singing: Yes, Miriam Stockley's voice was stunningly beautiful. She's not a part of Adiemus anymore - but her replacements are doing a very nice job.
The ethnic stuff - and the mixing of different styles: This CD, like all the Adiemus albums except #3, forms a whole. The new instruments (saxophone, etc) blend perfectly into the mix. It's a little peppier, jazzier and livelier than some of the other albums but whoever said that the everything should always stay the same? Adiemus can't just make more of the same, they need to evolve and they're doing just that.

...

My top 6 Adiemus albums:

# 1: Adiemus 2 - Still my favorite. One of the best CDs I own. Soothing music for the down days: It's the CD I pop into the CD player when I'm in that mood.
# 2: Adiemus 5 - The more it changes, the more it stays the same.
# 3: Adiemus 1 - The first I heard. I still remember how much I liked it - and I still do.
# 4: Adiemus 4 - The Celt album. I was sceptic before hearing it and waited long before buying it - but Karl Jenkins is like a great cook who can mix different things into his dishes and still make them taste great. (Of course, there's a strong tradition for this in classical music. Rimsky-Korsakov never went to Arabia, but Scheherazade is still gorgeous music, often performed in Arabia. Puccini never went to Japan or China).
# 5: Karl Jenkins: Imagined Oceans. I count this as an Adiemus album. I honestly don't know why it isn't one. Another batch of great melodies - maybe lacking that final magical touch of some of the best Adiemus CDs.
# 6: Adiemus 3. It's funny that this is the last on the list since it contains some of the most riveting Adiemus songs, the reason being that it's too uneven. Some wonderful songs with Miriam Stockley, some not-so-fantastic stuff with the Finnish singers. It's the only Adiemus CD I don't listen to regularly. Still more that worth it's price.

Adiemus 2, 5 and 1 are outstanding. The others are very good.

But, wait, there's more: Any Adiemus fan should check out Karl Jenkins: Diamond Music (no singing, more like classical chamber music, as always great melodies many of which can be heard on other Adiemus albums) and the two albums by Miriam Stockley.

As a long standing Adiemus fan and having purchased every Adiemus album, I'm pleased to say that I was not disappointed with Vocalise. For the most part, the absence of Mariam Stockley is something I can live with. What disappointed me was Jenkin's new "innovations", i.e. using the saxophone, improv., etc (although this is not really new, as it was on the LIVE album, its just not Adiemus for me)the only real gem in this for me was "Donna Nobis Pacem" Part I, which is sung beautifully. Bendigedig was also OK, "Mysterious Are Your Ways" is hauntingly enchanting, as is "Vocalise"

"Mi Contra Fa, Diabolus in Musica" and "Boogie Woogie Llanoogie", in the eyes of this fan, is nothing short of a DISASTER, they really RUIN the CD. They are the reasons, along with Jenkins "innovations" that cause the CD to be 4 stars.

From the very first note, unmistakably the composer, the music and the impact on today's listeners ~ Karl Jenkin's "Vocalise", featuring Adiemus with an original sound that has all cultures working together in perfect harmony. More radio stations preview many of their selections, even commercials feature some of their works. You can't take this talent for granted, once you experience one track you're hooked ~ discover all of joy and mysteries that prevail.

Each performance stands own its own merit "DONA NOBIS PACEM PART I", "MYSTERIOUS ARE YOUR WAYS", "ARIA", "VOCALISE" and "BENDIGEDIG", harmony beautifully excels, simply captivating your heart and soul within each melodic theme ~ for my money these are the highlights and stand outs.

Voices completely mesmerizing as Adiemus Singers thrill the listener with haunting almost breathtaking moments ~ ethnic rhythms, classical influences, chants and light catchy arrangements sets the mood and tone. A musical landscape takes you on a journey deep within the subconscious, you become entranced with their voices as another instrument. Karl Jenkins has brought fascinating lyrical and melodic textures to these compositions, weaving orchestral arrangements into a musical tapestry.

Most of the album is a winner, there are a few cues that should not have seen the light of day. Recommend this be included in your vast and ever growing collection of ~ ADIEMUS...gotta love it!

Total Time: 68:21 on 16 Tracks ~ Higher Octave 618268 ~ (1/27/2004)

I absolutely adore Adiemus's first and second albums, really like the third, and the fourth is all right. So I was really looking forward to this one. Unfortunately, I was quite disappointed. I thought perhaps I would warm to it in time but so far that hasn't happened. (I purchased it when it first came out--advance order. That's how much I was looking forward to it.)

The only song I truly like on the album is "Bendigedig," which sounds like it could have come from "Songs Of Sanctuary" or "Cantata Mundi" with its singing and soaring orchestral sound. Oddly, I also kind of like "Boogie Woogie Llanoogie" (nobody hurt me), but it's definitely not what one would expect from Adiemus. The two pieces for "Schwanda" are cute but strangely, do not feature bagpipes--and are very short. The rest of the music is, unfortunately, forgettable. I do NOT like the coherent lyrics because a big part of the enjoyment of Adiemus is being able to make up your own meaning for the songs--and a lot of the music on this album seemed to have an oddly Christian or religious-sounding bent. When I put this CD in, rather than listening through all or almost all of the songs like I do for Adiemus 1, 2, and 3, I just listen to one track, and that's it.

It's nice how Adiemus changes their style every so often to try to keep things fresh--but would a return to the old style hurt so much by now? I truly miss the great orchestral sound and lyricism of albums 1 and 2 and, to a slightly lesser extent, 3. Those three albums are what keep me coming back for more, even though albums 4 and 5 have rather been letdowns. Yes, Adiemus without Miriam Stockley is sad, but I think they could do just as well without her...if they went back to their old musical style at least once more! "Bendigedig" proves that. If only more of the songs on this album did.

Here's hoping that Adiemus 6, whenever and whatever it should be, is better...

I am very disappointed in this cd. I love not only Adiemus, but all of Karl Jenkins's other works. This, however, is not up to his usual caliber. One example: the last track, Boogie Woogie LLanoogie, sounds like the soundtrack to chase scenes from episodes of "A Pup Named Scooby Doo." The only good track on this cd is number four, Dona Nobis Pacem Part I. None of the other tracks have the power of any of the tracks compiled on "Karl Jenkins: The Journey, The Best of Adiemus."

I have to say it, while this is a nice cd it is missing something vital. The songs are becoming derivative and though the vocalists are lovely but without Miriam's voice it lacks that extra magic that made Adiemus so great.

I began to get worried when they brought in the Adiemus Singers, because it greately affected their sound, and then the 1999 version of Adiemus was placed on the Essential collection rather than the vastly superior original, and now no Miriam at all.

I think I'll stick to Karl's orchestral works from now on because he really is an amazing composer, and maybe I'll learn to like this CD as much as their previous stuff? It's not bad by any means, but it isn't exactly what I love about the earlier recordings either.

I would have probably enjoyed this CD more if Sarah Brightman hadn't used the same formula several years ago. There's nothing wrong with making clever arrangements of classical themes, but that's all you'll find in this collection -- none of the exciting, original melodies for which Karl Jenkins is best known.

Don't get me wrong; I own and love Sarah Brightman's versions of these same themes. I was just hoping for something new.

New vocal and orchestra arrangements for old classic and modern songs, including Beethoven, Villa-Lobos, Mozart and other. Vocalizes are amazing !

I think this album is brilliant--awesome music!! Can't turn it off!!! Especially love Allegratango!!! Adiemus could sing to the sound of a washing machine and still sound good! Kudos!!!