Karl Jenkins: Symphonic Adiemus. London Philharmonic Choir, Adiemus Symphonic Orchestra of Europe. Decca Records
Sir Karl Jenkins, the most performed living composer, has signed a multi-album deal with Decca Records, starting with the release last September of this new album. It brings together some of the most iconic moments from his Adiemus series in a new enriched sound - in particular Sir Karl has transformed his works from the original female vocalists and ensemble to a full choir (with male voices) and orchestra for the first time, after huge demand from choirs across the globe.
The new CD has 12 tracks drawing on works from the first three albums in the Adiemus series: Songs of Sanctuary, Cantata Mundi and Dances of Time, which sold over 1.5million albums worldwide. All three topped classical charts. In addition to adding male voices in a choir of 80, the orchestra is extended to over 100 musicians, including 20 layers of classical and ethnic percussion. With multi-tracking there may be over 400 participants heard at times.
The massive new "symphonic'' sound may give a new impetus to Sir Karl's popularity - hardly needed since his The Armed Man, A Mass for Peace is already one of the most successful works by a modern composer, receiving more than 2000 performances around the world since its premiere in 2000 and a fixture on classical charts since the CD came out in 2001. Meanwhile, Sir Karl (who was awarded an OBE, CBE, then a knighthood in the United Kingdom for services to music) is also reported to be preparing alternative scorings of his music involving piano (four hands) and percussion, one with and one without adding strings.
Opinion: Adiemus given louder sounds.
