Newsletter - Past Articles
Chorale to Perform Midwest Premiere of Jenkins’ Requiem
by Janet Tevlin, MDC member
February, 2007 Half Notes Newsletter
(continued)
Japanese Influence
Using five haiku poems dealing with death, Jenkins has concisely drawn on the Japanese culture. These evocative concise poems of but seventeen syllables often equate life with the water cycle or cherry blossom. To embellish the haiku, Jenkins has introduced the ancient Japanese flute, shakuhachi, into the orchestration. The shakuhachi came to Japan in the seventh century from China. It was first used in imperial court music and later played by mendicant Zen monks wishing to be delivered from earthly desires. It seems to have the ability to touch something deep inside of those who listen and to evoke images of nature.
The combination of the haiku and the shakuchachi add to this composition that extra ineffable quality which is the centerpiece of Jenkins’ compositions.
CHORALE BRINGS ANOTHER FIRST TO MICHIGAN AUDIENCES
Requiem by Karl Jenkins
- World Premiere June 2, 2005, in London
- U.S.A. Premiere April 2006, in New York City
- Canadian Premiere, November 2006, in British Columbia
- Midwest Premiere, June 3, 2007 by Metropolitan Detroit Chorale, Inc.
