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| Vocalise | 
 enlarge | Artists: Adiemus, Karl Jenkins, Mary Carewe, Belinda Sykes, Martin Taylor, Kenny Wheeler, Pamela Thorby, Mark Feltham, Nigel Hitchcock, Richard Harwood, Terrance Barber, Unspecified
Label: Higher Octave
Category: Music
List Price: $16.98
Buy New: $4.65
You Save: $12.33 (73%)
Buy New/Used from $4.65
Avg. Customer Rating:  (10 reviews)
Sales Rank: 129039
Media: Audio CD
Discs: 1
Shipping Weight (lbs): 0.2
Dimensions (in): 5.6 x 5 x 0.5
MPN: 57725
UPC: 724355772527
EAN: 0724355772527
ASIN: B000168ACS
Release Date: January 27, 2004
Availability: Usually ships in 1-2 business days
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| Tracks:
| • | Rondo | | • | The Protector | | • | Allegrettango | | • | Dona Nobris Pacem Part I | | • | Dona Nobris Pacem Part II | | • | Akruzam | | • | Schwanda The Bagpiper | | • | Exit Schwanda | | • | Bendigedig | | • | Schubert's Dance | | • | Berceuse Pour Un Enphant Solitaire | | • | Aria | | • | Mysterious Are Your Ways | | • | Mi Contra Fa, Diabolus in Musica | | • | Vocalise | | • | Boogie Woogie Llanoogie (Encore) |
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| 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
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| Customer Reviews: Read 5 more reviews...
Making Arrangements November 10, 2006
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.
 I miss Miriam. August 10, 2006
1 out of 1 found this review helpful
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 tried to like it, honest. August 21, 2005
4 out of 5 found this review helpful
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...
Some hits some misses... April 27, 2005
...but on the whole, more hits than misses. I especially like The Protector (the first Adiemus track with recognizable words). Another good track is Dona Nobis Pacem, Pt. 2. On the miss side is the Boogie Woogie Llanoogie. Another reivewer hit it spot in comparing it to Scooby Doo music. Also Dona Nobis Pacem, Pt. 1 didn't do much for me. While the album doesn't rise to the standard of Adiemus 1, it is a solid addition to the Adiemus library.
 Vocalist, Terry Barber March 2, 2005
6 out of 6 found this review helpful
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.
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