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Karl Jenkins (1944-     )

Karl Jenkins, composerKarl Jenkins was born in Penclawdd, South Wales, of mixed Welsh and Swedish parentage. He began studying piano at six, with his father who was a local chapel choirmaster. Upon entering Gowerton Grammar School at eleven he started to play the oboe, becoming principal in the National Youth Orchestra of Wales. He graduated from the University of Wales, Cardiff, where he read music (Bachelor of Music). This was followed by post graduate studies at the Royal Academy of Music, London. While at university he began playing jazz, adding the saxophone to his repertoire of instruments and it was in this area that he initially made his mark when he left the Royal Academy of Music. Winning awards in the unusual role of jazz oboist and multi-instrumentalist, he worked with Ronnie Scott amongst others and co-founded Nucleus in 1972, which won first prize at the Montreux Jazz Festival, before joining Soft Machine. Soft Machine was one of the seminal and progressive bands of the '70s, embracing a wide variety of styles from jazz and classical rock, including even 'minimalism' before it was widely known as such. Defying categorisation, in various incarnations, it played at venues as diverse as The Proms, the Newport Jazz Festival (USA), Carnegie Hall, the Reading Festival and the Montreux Festival. In recent years Karl Jenkins has become one of the world's best-selling living composers. He continues to conduct his epic Adiemus Live Concerts with distinguished orchestras including the London Philharmonic, featuring in Festivals and concerts in Britain and abroad.
-  SONY BMG Masterworks

COMPOSITIONS                                                            Jenkins Links     ~ ~ ~     Works by Genre
Shadows, film score (1982)
The Bad Sister, TV score (1983)
Adiemus: Songs of Sanctuary, female chorus and orchestra (1994)
    - Cantus Insolitus, violin and piano (2000)
Adiemus Variations, string quartet (1995)
Palladio, string orchestra (1995) [also for band; brass quintet]
    - Theme from Palladio, piano (1996)
Passacaglia, string orchestra (1995)
String Quartet No. 2 (1995)
Adiemus II (Cantata Mundi), voices and orchestra (1996)
Barocco No.1, saxophone quartet (1997)
Cantilena, piano (1997)
Cantus - Song of Tears, piano (1997)
Eloise, an opera for young people (1997)
Praise, male chorus and keyboard (1997)
Adiemus III (Dances of Time), 7 singers and orchestra (1998)
    - 3 Movts Adiemus III (Dances), SS/A (1998)
    - Zarabanda (from Adiemus III: Dances of Time), full orchestra (1998)
A Celebration of Christmas, female chorus or chorus and ensemble, or piano (1998)
Cynddylan on a Tractor, string ensemble (1998)
Imagined Oceans, voices, recorder, strings and percussion (1998)
Love's Fool, mixed ensemble (1998)
The Armed Man: A Mass for Peace, chorus and orchestra; choir, organ and brass band; chorus and ensemble (1999)
    - Choral Suite, chorus and orchestra
    -  Benedictus, solo voice (unspecified) and piano; piano; tuba and orchestra
    - Agnus Dei, solo voice (unspecified) and piano; piano
Bri, chorus and orchestra (1999)
Dewi Sant, chorus and orchestra (1999)
Jubilate Deo, chorus, organ, 3 trumpets and 3 trombones (1999)
Adiemus IV (The Eternal Knot), voices and orchestra (2000)
Cantilena, chorus or female chorus and piano (2000)
He wishes for the cloths of heaven, soprano and orchestra (pub. 2000)
Metallum, solo percussion and handbells (2000)
Odyssey 2000, chorus and orchestra (2000)
Salm o Dewi Sant, trumpet and piano (2000)
Scenes from Wales (Golygfaydd o Gymru), female chorus, mixed chorus and orchestra (2000)
Spring Dawn, chinese instruments, choir and ensemble (2000)
Boogie Woogie Llanoogie, piano (2001)
Song of Eden, saxophone, female chorus and orchestra (2001)
Dying to Dance, TV score (2001)
Over the Stone, 2 solo harps, strings and percussion  (2002)
Tangollen, orchestra (2002)
Trumpeting Organ Morgan, organ (2002)
Adiemus V (Vocalise), voices and orchestra (2003)
    - Allegrettango (after Beethoven), soprano and orchestra (2006)
    - Bendigedig (Blessed), solo voice and piano (2004)
Cantus - Song of the Plains, chorus and orchestra or piano (2003)
Cantus - Song of The Spirit, chorus and orchestra (2003)
Cantus Triquetrus, female chorus and piano (2003)
Celebro, girls' choir and orchestra (2004)
Cosmic Spirals, children's choir and orchestra (2004)
In these stones horizons sing, baritone, harp, jazz soloists, massed choirs and orchestra (2004)
Quirk (Snap; Raga Religioso; Chasing the Goose), concertante for percussion, piano, flute and orchestra (2004)
Requiem, chorus and orchestra (2004)
    - In Paradisum, soprano and orchestra; solo voice and piano; piano
    - Pie Jesu, chorus and piano; female chorus and piano; piano; solo voice and piano
    - Three Haikus, chorus and piano
    - Farewell (Agnus Dei), chorus and piano
The River of Gower, marimba, guitar, double bass and percussion (2004)
Spirals, marimba, vibraphone, guitar, bass and percussion (2004)
Travels with My Uncle, chorus (2004)
Vocanza, 2 choirs, brass ensemble and percussion (2004)
Gaudete (carol from Piĉ cantiones, 1582), double chorus (2004) [traditional, arr. Jenkins]
Ave verum, 1 or 2 baritones and orchestra (2005) [2004?]
B-Movie, brass ensemble and percussion (2005)
Celebratio, organ (pub. 2005)
A Parliament of Owls, soprano saxophone, ethnic percussion and choir (2005)
Sing we merrily unto God, chorus, brass, percussion and strings (2005)
River Queen, film score (2005)
Antema Africana, soprano and orchestra (2006)
Capriccio D'Amore, soprano and orchestra (2006)
Chums!, wind quintet or wind quintet and harp (2006)
The Girl with the Green Eyes, vocal group and ensemble (2006)
Mazurka (after Chopin), soprano and orchestra (2006)
The Mystics, soprano and orchestra (2006)
Paya Paya, soprano and orchestra (2006)
Tlep, 5 soloists, female choir, 4 percussion and orchestra (2006)
Stabat Mater, contralto, chorus and orchestra (2006-07)
Fanfare for Dennis, 3 trumpets (2007)
Hymn, soprano and ensemble; piano (arr. 2007)
Caerdydd 125 (Cardiff 125), fanfare for brass ensemble and percussion (2008)
Hymn: In Memoriam Martin Luther King Jr., cello and orchestra (2008)
The Madness of Morion!, organ (2008)
Mara Marakaya, chorus, piano (or piano duet) and opt/percussion (2008)
Sacred Songs, chorus and orchestra/ensemble or organ (compilation 2008)
    (Ave verum; And the mother did weep; Virgo virginum; Agnus Dei; Pie Jesu; Benedictus; In paradisum)
Sarikiz, violin and orchestra (2008)
Te Deum, chorus and orchestra (2008)
Euphonium Concerto, tuba and orchestra (2009)
Madog, piano (2009)
O beata Trinitas, chorus and orchestra (2009)


WORKS BY GENRE                                                            Jenkins Links     ~ top of page ~
Dramatic/Theater
Eloise, an opera for young people (1997)

Orchestra
Palladio, string orchestra (1995) [also for band; brass quintet] [excerpt from 1st mvt used in DeBeers diamond commercial]
Passacaglia, string orchestra (1995)
Zarabanda, orchestra (1998) [from Adiemus III (Dances of Time), 1998]
Tangollen, orchestra (2002)

Band
Palladio, string orchestra (1995) [also for band; brass quintet]

Soloist(s) w/Orchestra
Song of Eden, saxophone, female chorus and orchestra (2001)
Over the Stone, 2 solo harps, strings and percussion  (2002)
Quirk (Snap; Raga Religioso; Chasing the Goose), concertante for percussion, piano, flute and orchestra (2004)
A Parliament of Owls, soprano saxophone, ethnic percussion and choir (2005)
Hymn: In Memoriam Martin Luther King Jr., cello and orchestra (2008)
Sarikiz, violin and orchestra (2008)
Euphonium Concerto, tuba and orchestra (2009)

Chorus w/Orchestra
Adiemus: Songs of Sanctuary, female chorus and orchestra (1994)
Adiemus II (Cantata Mundi), voices and orchestra (1996)
Adiemus III (Dances of Time), 7 singers and orchestra (1998)
Imagined Oceans, voices, recorder, strings and percussion (1998)
The Armed Man: A Mass for Peace, chorus and orchestra; choir, organ and brass band; chorus and ensemble (1999)
Bri, chorus and orchestra (1999)
Dewi Sant, chorus and orchestra (1999)
Adiemus IV (The Eternal Knot), voices and orchestra (2000)
Odyssey 2000, chorus and orchestra (2000)
Scenes from Wales (Golygfaydd o Gymru), female chorus, mixed chorus and orchestra (2000)
Song of Eden, saxophone, female chorus and orchestra (2001)
Adiemus V (Vocalise), voices and orchestra (2003)
Cantus - Song of the Plains, chorus and orchestra or piano (2003)
Cantus - Song of The Spirit, chorus and orchestra (2003)
Celebro, girls' choir and orchestra (2004)
Cosmic Spirals, children's choir and orchestra (2004)
In these stones horizons sing, baritone, harp, jazz soloists, massed choirs and orchestra (2004)
Requiem, chorus and orchestra (2004)
Sing we merrily unto God, chorus, brass, percussion and strings (2005)
Tlep, 5 soloists, female choir, 4 percussion and orchestra (2006)
Stabat Mater, contralto, chorus and orchestra (2006-07)
Sacred Songs, chorus and orchestra/ensemble or organ (compilation 2008)
Te Deum, chorus and orchestra (2008)
O beata Trinitas, chorus and orchestra (2009)

Choral
Praise, male chorus and keyboard (1997)
A Celebration of Christmas, female chorus or chorus and ensemble (1998)
Jubilate Deo, chorus, organ, 3 trumpets and 3 trombones (1999)
Cantilena, chorus or female chorus and piano (2000)
Spring Dawn, chinese instruments, choir and ensemble (2000)
Cantus Triquetrus, female chorus and piano (2003)
Pie Jesu, chorus and piano; female chorus and piano [from Requiem, 2004]
Three Haikus, chorus and piano [from Requiem, 2004]
Farewell (Agnus Dei), chorus and piano [from Requiem, 2004]
Travels with My Uncle, chorus (2004)
Vocanza, 2 choirs, brass ensemble and percussion (2004)
Gaudete (carol from Piĉ cantiones, 1582), double chorus (2004) [traditional, arr. Jenkins]
A Parliament of Owls, soprano saxophone, ethnic percussion and choir (2005)
The Girl with the Green Eyes, vocal group and ensemble (2006)
Mara Marakaya, chorus, piano (or piano duet) and opt/percussion (2008)
Sacred Songs, chorus and orchestra/ensemble or organ (compilation 2008)
    (Ave verum; And the mother did weep; Virgo virginum; Agnus Dei; Pie Jesu; Benedictus; In paradisum)

Chamber
Adiemus Variations, string quartet (1995)
Palladio, string orchestra (1995) [also for band; brass quintet]
String Quartet No. 2 (1995)
Barocco No.1, saxophone quartet (1997)
Cynddylan on a Tractor, string ensemble (1998)
Love's Fool, mixed ensemble (1998)
Metallum, solo percussion and handbells (2000)
The River of Gower, marimba, guitar, double bass and percussion (2004)
Spirals, marimba, vibraphone, guitar, bass and percussion (2004)
B-Movie, brass ensemble and percussion (2005)
Chums!, wind quintet or wind quintet and harp (2006)
Fanfare for Dennis, 3 trumpets (2007)
Caerdydd 125 (Cardiff 125), fanfare for brass ensemble and percussion (2008)

Percussion
Metallum, solo percussion and handbells (2000)
The River of Gower, marimba, guitar, double bass and percussion (2004)
Spirals, marimba, vibraphone, guitar, bass and percussion (2004)

Solo Instrument
Cantus Insolitus, violin and piano (2000) [arr from Adiemus, 1994]
Benedictus, tuba and orchestra [from The Armed Man: A Mass for Peace, 1999]
Salm o Dewi Sant, trumpet and piano (2000)

Piano/Organ
Theme from Palladio, piano (1996)
Cantilena, piano (1997)
Cantus - Song of Tears, piano (1997)
Boogie Woogie Llanoogie, piano (2001)
Trumpeting Organ Morgan, organ (2002)
Celebratio, organ (pub. 2005)
The Madness of Morion!, organ (2008)
Madog, piano (2009)

Vocal
Benedictus, solo voice and piano [from The Armed Man: A Mass for Peace, 1999]
Agnus Dei, solo voice and piano [from The Armed Man: A Mass for Peace, 1999]
He wishes for the cloths of heaven, soprano and orchestra (pub. 2000)
In Paradisum, soprano and orchestra [from Requiem, 2004]
Pie Jesu, solo voice and piano [from Requiem, 2004]
Bendigedig (Blessed), solo voice and piano (2004) [from Adiemus V (Vocalise), 2003]
Ave verum, 1 or 2 baritones and orchestra (2005) [2004?]
Allegrettango (after Beethoven), soprano and orchestra (2006) [from Adiemus V (Vocalise), 2003]
Antema Africana, soprano and orchestra (2006)
Capriccio D'Amore, soprano and orchestra (2006)
Mazurka (after Chopin), soprano and orchestra (2006)
The Mystics, soprano and orchestra (2006)
Paya Paya, soprano and orchestra (2006)
Hymn, soprano and ensemble (arr. 2007)

Incidental/Film
Shadows, film score (1982)
The Bad Sister, TV score (1983)
Dying to Dance, TV score (2001)
River Queen, film score (2005)


JENKINS  LINKS                                                            Works by Genre      ~ top of page ~
Defying the Champions of ‘Squeaky Gate’ Music (Will Heaven, The Catholic Herald)
Interview: Karl Jenkins (Church Times)
Karl Jenkins: Fanfare for the Common Man (Sam Ingleby, The Independent)
Karl Jenkins: Meet Britain's Bestselling Composer (Adam Sweeting, Telegraph)
Karl Jenkins: Triumph of Banal Manipulation (David Fanning, Telegraph)

Composer's website

Jenkins @ Wikipedia
Jenkins @ Americymru.com
Jenkins @ BBC
Jenkins @ Boosey & Hawkes
Jenkins @ Classic Cat
Jenkins @ Classical Archives
Jenkins @ Classical Composers Database
Jenkins @ Classical Net
Jenkins @ composition:today
Jenkins @ Distinguished Concerts International
Jenkins @ IMDb (Internet Movie Database)
Jenkins @ Musical Discoveries
Jenkins @ MusicWeb International
Jenkins @ Pandora Internet Radio
Jenkins @ Tokafi

Streaming Audio
Jenkins @ Classical Archives
Jenkins @ last.fm
Jenkins @ Rhapsody

Recordings
Jenkins @ ArkivMusic
Jenkins @ ClassicsOnline
Jenkins @ Discogs

Jenkins @ YouTube
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