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Music Text

Liturgical (L); Haikus by Gozan, Issho, Hokusai, Kaga-no-Chiyo, Banzan (Japanese)

Scoring

Optional soprano and treble soloists; Shakuhachi (or fl)-2hn-timp.perc(3):glsp/bamboo chimes/t.bell (lowest possible A)/surdo/darabuca/hi-hat/SD/mark tree/tamb/cyms/susp.cym/2 low floor tom-t/tgl/rainstick/BD/2tamt-t-harp-strings

Abbreviations (PDF)

Publisher

Boosey & Hawkes

Territory
This work is available from Boosey & Hawkes for the world.

Availability

World Premiere
02/06/2005
Southwark Cathedral, London
massed choirs / West Kazakhstan Philharmonic Orchestra / Karl Jenkins
Composer's Notes

A Requiem is a Mass for the souls of the dead. In general I have set the usual Latin movements but in keeping with my usual trait of drawing from other cultures, I have also set five Japanese haiku ‘death’ poems. Such poems are usually to do with nature, have a single idea, and consist of seventeen syllables divided 5-7-5 over three lines. As one can see from the text, the Japanese view nature’s water cycle [precipitation] as being synonymous with life.


I have combined the Western and Eastern texts in two of the haiku movements. Having Seen The Moon and Farewell, which incorporate the Benedictus and the Agnus Dei respectively. Both are intoned by male voices in a monastic style as a counterpoint to the Japanese text sung by females.


The instrumentation of these haiku settings includes the ancient Japanese wind instrument the shakuhachi. Elsewhere, as usual, I have used some ethnic drums [e.g. Arabic darabuca, Japanese daiko, frame drums] and even a hip-hop rhythm in the Dies Irae!


The work is dedicated to my late father, a musician and an inspiration


©Karl Jenkins


Reproduction Rights:
This programme note may be reproduced in concert programmes with a credit to the composer

Press Quotes

“…the ultimate in postmodern Requiems…”
Music Week

"Jenkins's gift for writing solid melodies according to the mood of the text is profound."
Choral Review

Recommended Recording
cd_cover

West Kazakhstan Philharmonic Orchestra/
Serendipity & Côr Caerdydd/Karl Jenkins
Decca Classics 4817880

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