The Music of Karl Jenkins

Southrepps Chorale presents an ambitious and colourful retrospective of the music of Karl Jenkins.

The Welsh composer Karl Jenkins (b. 1944) has won a devoted following for his hybrid works meshing symphonic elements with choral music and ‘world-music’ appropriations of texts, vocals and instruments. In 2000 his The Armed Man: a Mass for Peace became a musical phenomenon and marked the start of a journey navigating the nexus of spiritual, inspirational and socially conscious themes advocating peace and non-violence.

The Peacemakers is classically-based and very approachable, with world music and jazz influences. As with so many great musical experiences, the cumulative effect is far greater than the sum of its parts. Jenkins uses ethnic percussion and wind instruments, a solo soprano saxophone and a prominent part for fretless 5-string electric bass. Together with the choir, wonderful percussion writing and instrumental detail, The Peacemakers makes an international statement of epic proportions. What impresses the listener is the huge variety of styles, textures and musical material that Jenkins has managed to weave together into a coherent and emotional tour de force that produces a profound impact on the audience. Many of the individual movements have been hailed as some of the best and most memorable music that Karl Jenkins has ever produced.

Other works in this popular programme include Palladio and Adiemus both coming from the period in the early 1990’s when Karl Jenkins was a titan composer of TV advertising music.   

Stephen Richards directs the Southrepps Chorale with orchestra and 15-year-old soprano soloist, Hannah Kelleway, in St. Peter’s Church, Sheringham on Saturday 22^nd July 2023 at 7.30pm.