PEMBROKE — Karl Jenkins might be the most famous person you’ve never heard of — unless you’re Welsh, or interested in choral or orchestral music. He is, however, one of the most performed living composers in the world.
One of his compositions, The Armed Man: A Mass for Peace has been performed over 2,000 times around the world—that’s twice a week since it was first performed in 2000.
One of those concerts took place here in Pembroke in 2013, performed by the Pembroke Community Choir (PCC) under the direction of Gerald LaRonde.
In 2015, 23 members of Pembroke’s choir performed another Jenkins’ composition, The Peacemakers, at Carnegie Hall in New York and were also honoured to meet him in person.
On Palm Sunday, April 14th, director LaRonde will lead the 70-voice PCC in a performance of another Jenkins’ piece, Stabat Mater, complete with full orchestra, and mezzo soloist Danielle Vaillancourt. The title Stabat Mater comes from the first line of the 13th century poem Stabat Mater Doloroso, (the Sorrowful Mother), and the texts reflect on the suffering of Mary upon the crucifixion of her son, Jesus. Jenkins’ composition accomplishes the difficult task of transforming suffering into beauty.
At its most powerful, music can evoke sadness and despair, while at the same time leave listeners moved and inspired because it is so beautiful and haunting. Jenkins’ Stabat Mater falls into this category—his songs of sorrow have such exquisite harmonies and instrumentation, they feel uplifting.
Mr. LaRonde chose this composition because it is especially appropriate for the Easter season. Just over an hour in length, the 12 movements have many moods–both melancholic and soaring vocals, shifting dynamics of the orchestra, pulsating percussion and rhythms, and Jenkins’ inclination to incorporate some passages with touches of ethnic musical traditions.
“Some of the music most definitely has a Middle Eastern feel to it since that’s where Jesus came from and this is reflected in some of the instruments,” he said. “We will be using a darbucca (hand drum) and a riq (tambourine) and in place of a dudduk, a recorder.”
Karl Jenkins did not take the traditional musical path to his role of composer today. Surrounded by music as a child–his father was a music teacher, organist and choirmaster– Jenkins learned piano at home, and then formally studied the oboe, and played in national youth orchestras. His early musical heroes were Bach, Mozart, and Beethoven, among other classical composers.
As a teenager he discovered jazz. The free form and chaotic streams of jazz steered him into new and exciting musical directions. He also explored rock music and eventually performed with a popular and progressive jazz-rock fusion group called Soft Machine.
In this group, Jenkins worked far outside classical musical structures. He experimented and improvised with other musicians and musical forms; and on recordings, he is credited with composing many of the Soft Machine instrumental pieces, as well as with playing the oboe, baritone and soprano saxophones, recorder, synthesizers and electric pianos.
That side of Jenkins’ musical education, along with his doctorate in music from the Royal Academy of Music in London, England and a long-time interest in world cultures and ethnic music, have blended into the unique and popular composer that Karl Jenkins is today. He describes his music as a “melting pot” of classical principles with inspirations for rhythms and instrumentation from other cultures that have included South America, the Middle East, and even Japan.
Now 75 years old, with over 25 major orchestral or choral works, 17 gold and platinum disc awards, medals, awards, honorary doctorates, and a 2015 Knighthood conferred upon him by Queen Elizabeth, Sir Karl Jenkins might not yet be a household name, but his compositions will certainly be performed around the world for many years to come.
The Pembroke Community Choir is pleased to perform Jenkins’ Stabat Mater for Pembroke and area on Sunday, April 14 at 7 p.m. at Our Lady of Lourdes Church in Pembroke.
Advance tickets until Friday, April 12 are $15 and available from choir members, the Pembroke Mall office, and Fleurish Floral Designs (formerly Kevin’s Flowers) in Petawawa. If still available, tickets will be $20 at the door. Students 13 and under are free. For more information, call choir president Linda Clark at 613-735-8804, or visit the choir’s website: www.pembrokecommunitychoir.org.
