Vocalise

Adiemus (Artist), Karl Jenkins (Artist), Mary Carewe (Artist), Belinda Sykes (Artist), Martin Taylor (Artist), Kenny Wheeler (Artist), Pamela Thorby (Artist), Mark Feltham (Artist), Nigel Hitchcock (Artist), Richard Harwood (Artist), Terrance Barber (Artist), Unspecified (Artist)

Product Details

• Audio CD (January 27, 2004)
• Number of Discs: 1
• Label: Higher Octave
• ASIN: B000168ACS
• Also Available in: Audio CD  |  MP3 Download
• Average Customer Review: 3.9 out of 5 stars See all reviews (11 customer reviews)
• Amazon.com Sales Rank: #161,782 in Music (See Bestsellers in Music)

Editorial Reviews

Amazon.com
On Vocalise, the fifth installment in his Adiemus series, composer Karl Jenkins presents his first discernable lyrics (an invocation sung in English on "The Protector") and his first arrangements, quite eclectic, of classical repertoire (imagine a movement of Beethoven's 7th symphony recast as a tango). We also experience brief encounters with jazz guitar (from Martin Taylor), improvisational saxophone (Nigel Hitchcock), Middle East incantations, even backwater harmonica. It is indeed a jumble, and at times Vocalise (i.e., "wordless song") evokes impressions of intermingled jigsaw puzzles where an abundance of pieces never quite coalesce into a whole. Jenkins' most distinctive audio element, his exuberant Munchkins-from-Africa choir singing in a nonliteral phonetic language, is again on display and is best appreciated in small doses (vocalist Miriam Stockley, a centerpiece of early Adiemus works, does not take part). Jenkins' most affecting pieces on this CD are among its quietest: the slow-building "Bendigedig" ("blessed" in Welsh, Jenkins' native tongue) and the title track, a reverent reworking of a Rachmaninov composition of the same name. Even with all its stylistic side trips, at 68 minutes fans should be able to cherry-pick enough highlights (such as the breezy frolic of "Schubert's Dance") to find contentment with this disc. --Terry Wood

Customer Reviews

Most Helpful Customer Reviews

9 of 10 people found the following review helpful:

5.0 out of 5 stars Adiemus still going strong, May 4, 2004

By A Customer

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.

5 of 5 people found the following review helpful:

4.0 out of 5 stars THE ADIEMUS YOU LOVE, THE ADIEMUS YOU HATE..ALL ON ONE CD!, January 30, 2004

By A Customer

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.

3 of 3 people found the following review helpful:

4.0 out of 5 stars "Adiemus Singers from Finland ~ Karl Jenkins", February 3, 2004

By	J. Lovins "Mr. Jim" (Missouri-USA) - See all my reviews (TOP 50 REVIEWER)    (REAL NAME)

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)