Diamond Music
Encyclopedia
Diamond Music is a 1996 album
by Welsh
composer
Karl Jenkins
.
Perhaps one of Jenkins most recognized works is the first movement of the "Palladio" suite, inspired by 16th-century architect Andrea Palladio
and in the style of a concerto grosso
. This piece, in varying arrangement
s, has served as the music for DeBeers television advertisement
s since the company's "Shadows and Light" campaign in the mid-1990s. For this reason, the album is titled Diamond Music and the cover art features shadowed figures and photographs of diamonds much like the imagery used in the ad campaign.
Jenkin's compositions in this album encompass a broad polystylistic
range, contrasting delicate pieces written for string quartet
with the broad sound of a string orchestra
. "String Quartet No. 2" includes movements in the Baroque
style of Antonio Vivaldi
("The Fifth Season") as well as a tango
, waltz
, hoedown
, and others. The four "Adiemus Variations
" are reworkings of Jenkins' own piece "Adiemus" from Adiemus: Songs of Sanctuary
. Additionally, the second movement of "Palladio" served as the theme for "Cantus Insolitus" also heard on Songs of Sanctuary.
Tim Neumark. The piece is a solo piano rendition of the first movement of Jenkins' "Palladio" suite.
The British electric string quartet Bond
performed a rendition of "Palladio", titled "Allegretto", on their Shine
album. A second British electric string quartet, Escala
also performed a similar arrangement of the piece on their self-titled album
.
Also this piece is well known as being the theme music for famous singer, Jade Villalon
of Sweetbox
's song "Sorry".
Jedi Mind Tricks song "On the Eve of War" samples the first movement of Jenkin's "Palladio Suite"
The "Theme from Palladio" was also performed by Carol Williams on the organ of St Martin's church in Dudelange, Luxembourg.
Recently, an episode of Dancing with the Stars featured Palladio performed.
Palladio was sampled on "On the Eve of War" by Jedi Mind Tricks.
Album
An album is a collection of recordings, released as a single package on gramophone record, cassette, compact disc, or via digital distribution. The word derives from the Latin word for list .Vinyl LP records have two sides, each comprising one half of the album...
by Welsh
Wales
Wales is a country that is part of the United Kingdom and the island of Great Britain, bordered by England to its east and the Atlantic Ocean and Irish Sea to its west. It has a population of three million, and a total area of 20,779 km²...
composer
Composer
A composer is a person who creates music, either by musical notation or oral tradition, for interpretation and performance, or through direct manipulation of sonic material through electronic media...
Karl Jenkins
Karl Jenkins
-Other works:*Adiemus: Live — live versions of Adiemus music*Palladio *Eloise *Imagined Oceans *The Armed Man: A Mass for Peace...
.
Perhaps one of Jenkins most recognized works is the first movement of the "Palladio" suite, inspired by 16th-century architect Andrea Palladio
Andrea Palladio
Andrea Palladio was an architect active in the Republic of Venice. Palladio, influenced by Roman and Greek architecture, primarily by Vitruvius, is widely considered the most influential individual in the history of Western architecture...
and in the style of a concerto grosso
Concerto grosso
The concerto grosso is a form of baroque music in which the musical material is passed between a small group of soloists and full orchestra...
. This piece, in varying arrangement
Arrangement
The American Federation of Musicians defines arranging as "the art of preparing and adapting an already written composition for presentation in other than its original form. An arrangement may include reharmonization, paraphrasing, and/or development of a composition, so that it fully represents...
s, has served as the music for DeBeers television advertisement
Television advertisement
A television advertisement or television commercial, often just commercial, advert, ad, or ad-film – is a span of television programming produced and paid for by an organization that conveys a message, typically one intended to market a product...
s since the company's "Shadows and Light" campaign in the mid-1990s. For this reason, the album is titled Diamond Music and the cover art features shadowed figures and photographs of diamonds much like the imagery used in the ad campaign.
Jenkin's compositions in this album encompass a broad polystylistic
Polystylism
Polystylism is the use of multiple styles or techniques in literature, art, film, or, especially, music, and is a postmodern characteristic.Some prominent contemporary polystylist composers include Peter Maxwell Davies, Michael Colgrass, Lera Auerbach, Sofia Gubaidulina, George Rochberg, Alfred...
range, contrasting delicate pieces written for string quartet
String quartet
A string quartet is a musical ensemble of four string players – usually two violin players, a violist and a cellist – or a piece written to be performed by such a group...
with the broad sound of a string orchestra
String orchestra
A string orchestra is an orchestra composed solely or primarily of instruments from the string family. These instruments are the violin, the viola, the cello, the double bass , the piano, the harp, and sometimes percussion...
. "String Quartet No. 2" includes movements in the Baroque
Baroque music
Baroque music describes a style of Western Classical music approximately extending from 1600 to 1760. This era follows the Renaissance and was followed in turn by the Classical era...
style of Antonio Vivaldi
Antonio Vivaldi
Antonio Lucio Vivaldi , nicknamed because of his red hair, was an Italian Baroque composer, priest, and virtuoso violinist, born in Venice. Vivaldi is recognized as one of the greatest Baroque composers, and his influence during his lifetime was widespread over Europe...
("The Fifth Season") as well as a tango
Tango (dance)
Tango dance originated in the area of the Rio de la Plata , and spread to the rest of the world soon after....
, waltz
Waltz
The waltz is a ballroom and folk dance in time, performed primarily in closed position.- History :There are several references to a sliding or gliding dance,- a waltz, from the 16th century including the representations of the printer H.S. Beheim...
, hoedown
Hoedown
A Hoedown is a type of American folk dance or square dance in duple meter, and also the musical form associated with it.-Overview:The most popular sense of the term is associated with Americans in rural or southeastern parts of the country, particularly Appalachia. It is a dance in quick movement...
, and others. The four "Adiemus Variations
Variation (music)
In music, variation is a formal technique where material is repeated in an altered form. The changes may involve harmony, melody, counterpoint, rhythm, timbre, orchestration or any combination of these.-Variation form:...
" are reworkings of Jenkins' own piece "Adiemus" from Adiemus: Songs of Sanctuary
Adiemus: Songs of Sanctuary
Released in 1995, Songs of Sanctuary is the first album by Welsh composer Karl Jenkins as part of the Adiemus project. This album quickly garnered critical acclaim as the title track "Adiemus" had been previously well received during its use in a Delta Air Lines television commercial and release on...
. Additionally, the second movement of "Palladio" served as the theme for "Cantus Insolitus" also heard on Songs of Sanctuary.
Track listing
- "Palladio I, Allegretto" – 3:47
- "Palladio II, Largo" – 5:38
- "Palladio III, Vivace" – 6:58
- "Adiemus Variations I" – 1:28
- "Adiemus Variations II" – 3:32
- "Adiemus Variations III" – 2:29
- "Adiemus Variations IV" – 3:33
- "Passacaglia" – 4:53
- "String Quartet No. 2: I The Fifth Season" – 3:43
- "String Quartet No. 2: II Tango" – 5:50
- "String Quartet No. 2: III Waltz" – 2:11
- "String Quartet No. 2: IV Romanze" – 2:59
- "String Quartet No. 2: V Bits" – 4:44
Other arrangements
Diamond Music is the title of a track by solo pianistPianist
A pianist is a musician who plays the piano. A professional pianist can perform solo pieces, play with an ensemble or orchestra, or accompany one or more singers, solo instrumentalists, or other performers.-Choice of genres:...
Tim Neumark. The piece is a solo piano rendition of the first movement of Jenkins' "Palladio" suite.
The British electric string quartet Bond
Bond (band)
Bond is an Australian/British string quartet that specialises in classical crossover music...
performed a rendition of "Palladio", titled "Allegretto", on their Shine
Shine (Bond album)
Shine is the second album released by the classical crossover string quartet Bond. It went Gold in six countries and it also spent five consecutive weeks in the US Classical Crossover charts. Bond have described it as an "ethnic" album....
album. A second British electric string quartet, Escala
Escala (group)
Escala is an electronic string quartet, from London, England who rose to fame when they performed on and reached the final of the second series of Britain's Got Talent on ITV1 in May 2008.- Background :...
also performed a similar arrangement of the piece on their self-titled album
Escala (album)
Escala is the self-titled debut album by British Quartet Escala, who appeared on the ITV talent contest Britain's Got Talent. It was released on 25 May 2009 in the United Kingdom.- Release :...
.
Also this piece is well known as being the theme music for famous singer, Jade Villalon
Jade Villalon
Jade Valerie Villalon , also known by her project and stage name Jade Valerie, is an American and European pop singer, songwriter, and actress...
of Sweetbox
Sweetbox
Sweetbox is a Los Angeles based pop music project formed in 1995 by executive producer Heiko Schmidt and music producer Roberto "Geo" Rosan.Throughout the years Sweetbox has had several leading women including Kimberly Kearney, Dacia Bridges, Tina Harris, Jade Villalon and most recently and...
's song "Sorry".
Jedi Mind Tricks song "On the Eve of War" samples the first movement of Jenkin's "Palladio Suite"
The "Theme from Palladio" was also performed by Carol Williams on the organ of St Martin's church in Dudelange, Luxembourg.
Recently, an episode of Dancing with the Stars featured Palladio performed.
Palladio was sampled on "On the Eve of War" by Jedi Mind Tricks.