Karl Jenkins

Requiem

In recent years Karl Jenkins has become one of the world's most sought-after living composers. He continues to conduct his epic 'Adiemus' live concerts with renowned orchestras such as the London Philharmonic Orchestra at festivals and concerts in the UK and abroad. His moving choral work 'The Armed Man: A Mass For Peace' is now firmly established among the most popular concert pieces. This new work relies on the style that the British public has come to know and appreciate. Jenkins has arranged the usual movements from the Latin Requiem Mass, but in his familiar recourse to other cultures, he has also set five Japanese death poems, so-called 'haikus'. These poems usually have scenes from nature as their subject matter, convey only a single thought, and consist of seventeen syllables spanning three lines in the 5-7-5 syllabic pattern. As can be seen from the text, the Japanese regard the natural water cycle (precipitation) as synonymous with life. Western and Eastern texts are combined in the two haiku movements 'Having Seen The Moon' and 'Farewell', including the 'Benedictus' and the 'Agnus Dei' respectively. Both are intoned by male voices like monk chant, as a counterpoint to the Japanese text sung by women. Instrumentation for these haiku settings includes the shakuhachi, an ancient Japanese wind instrument. Elsewhere, as usual, Jenkins has used some ethnic drums (e.g., Arabic darabukka, Japanese taiko, frame drums) and even hip-hop rhythms in the 'Dies Irae'!

Mixed choir (SATB) and orchestra. 5th edition (2011).