Karl Jenkins: Stabat Mater

Product Details

Artist : Karl Jenkins
Binding : Audio CD
EAN : 5099950028320
Label : EMI
Number of Discs : 1
Product Group : Music
Release Date : 2008-03-10
Running Time : 62minutes

ASIN : B0013D8K28

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Customer Reviews

Superb! (2008-06-10)

Some of the previous Reviews seem to imply that this is just Karl Jenkins again (Ho Hum). I wonder if they would say the same about Beethoven "Oh I've heard all nine Symphonies and they are all terribly Beethoven". Well yes and that is their glory as are the works of Karl Jenkins. I have sung both the 'Armed Man' and the 'Requiem' and both moved me beyond measure. I imagine that this will do the same when my Choral Society (inevitably) performs it. Like most Of Jenkins Music the first listening gives the result of "very nice but I am not sure what it's all about'. The second listening gets the juices flowing and by the third listening you are totally hooked. The harmonies of the Ave Verum and the use of Arabic for the Incantation are positively ethereal. Yes there are echoes of the Requiem and the Armed man but this piece is all the better for that. Just stick with it folks and you will see what I mean.

Buy it - but you won't be surprised (2008-06-08)

Before you music snobs have a go and tell me that Jenkins is commercial and shallow, I don't expect you to even be reading this review. These notes are for listeners who already appreciate Jenkins and are wondering whether to buy this new album.Stabat Mater builds on and has overtones of the more familiar works. But it isn't a step forward in the same way that The Armed Man was (and in my view, Jenkins will never write a better piece of music). What it certainly does do is deliver some real emotion. The album is based on a poem about how Mary felt as her son was crucified. I'm not religious, but I am a Dad. There are times when you listen to this piece where your thoughts will turn to your own children. Nothing can convey how a mother would feel watching her son tortured, but at times whilst listening to this, you a certainly moved by her lament.Terrific album - you won't be disappointed.

An easy target (2008-06-07)

I heard this piece performed live last night, and my response is based both on the CD and that concert. My genuine reponse is probably the most frustrating of all - apathy. If this were exceptionally good or bad, I would be a lot happier. It is neither.This is not classical music in any proper sense. It is easy-listening pseudo-classical music with fairly primitive, unimaginative orchestral writing. The vocal writing appears aimed mainly at amateur choirs. As has been noted elsewhere, by far the most interesting parts of this work are those from texts other than the Stabat Mater. The response to the texts in these parts speaks of a musician genuinely engaged. Unfortunately the remainder speaks of someone who has listened to too many orchestral soundtracks, and believes that is how the western music vocal tradition of the last 400 years should go. I had many images in my mind during this work - mainly hobbits - and not much in the way of a grieving mother, and the many possibilities that would entail.What can i say - this is genuinely easy to listen to, and contains many memorable tunes (not melodies). Well done Karl Jenkins, To everyone else - be clear on what this is, and what this is not.

Another Classic (2008-05-02)

My favourite Karl Jenkins work has to be 'The Armed Man', however, I do also enjoy this new work very much. It has a range of different moods and transports the listener from one side of the world to another. Loads of classic Jenkins in this music, you can hear some of the inspiration coming from some of hie earlier works. However you can also hear new ideas and influences from his travels to Eastern Europe.Overall, a very moving piece of music, one that I am sure will become very popular.

A Bitter Disappointment (2008-04-04)

I attended the Premier at Liverpool Cathedral and was bitterly disappointed. Far from being a single piece that relates the Stabat Mater to comtemporary themes, it feels more like a repetitive and unimaginative setting of the Stabat, interrupted by more emotional pieces on other texts. It is clear that Jenkins's heart is in these other sections, which vary from alarming to heart-breaking but are never dull (hence three stars, not one). The rest is just "Jenkins by numbers": strong, syncopated percussion backed by heavy strings and urgent brasses, long crescendo, then timp roll & gong. Repeat without variation for 45 minutes. You've heard this before and may well like it. It does little for me.

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