Karl Jenkins - Requiem (EMI Audio CD)  

"The Requiem is dedicated to the memory of my father who was a musician, friend and inspiration. It was a moving and rewarding time for me when composing this work, with its blend of traditional Latin text combined with the haiku poems from Japan, and a thrill to bring what are seemingly disparate elements together, such as a fabulous orchestra from Kazakhstan, the best of Welsh choirs, and our brilliant soloists.” —Karl Jenkins

Shortly after its release, Karl's Requiem went to the top of the classical charts. The driving Dies Irae with its 'hip-hop' percussion beat provides the soundtrack to the current Lynx commercial.

Requiem is scored for mixed choir, string orchestra, soprano solo, boy treble, harp, two horns and shakuhachi (Japanese bamboo flute). With a duration of about fifty-five minutes, there are thirteen movements, five of which are set to Japanese texts called Jisei, or death poems. Each jisei is in the form of a haiku and is performed by soprano Nicole Tibbels.

The rest of the work Karl has set to the Latin requiem mass and is performed by combined choirs from Wales--Côr Caerdydd, Serendipity and Cytgan--and directed by Tim Rhys-Evans. The string musicians are the West Kazakhstan Philharmonic Orchestra (Uralsk Philharmonic Orchestra), which is normally directed by Marat Bisegaliev, but on this recording Marat is leader of the orchestra under Karl's baton.

01. Introit
02. Dies irae
03. The snow of yesterday
04. Rex tremendae
05. Confutatis
06. From deep in my heart
07. Lacrimosa
08. Now as a spirit
09. Pie Jesu
10. Having seen the moon
11. Lux aeterna
12. Farewell
13. In paradisum