Karl Jenkins – Sheet Music & Scores

The Welsh composer Sir Karl William Pamp Jenkins (b.1944), with works like his mass for peace, Karl Jenkin’s The Armed Man, and his Adiemus, is one of the most important and most frequently performed living composers. Browse our sheet music and scores, and discover why with Stretta Music today!

From jazz rocker, to one of the most popular living composers!

It was clear early on, that Karl Jenkins sought to be a pioneer of a new, universal musical language. As a member of Nucleus and Soft Machine, he was an enthusiastic advocate of Jazz Rock, and he was also a brilliant oboist, featuring as Principal Oboe for the National Orchestra of Wales.

With the Adiemus project, he finally made his international breakthrough in the 90s. The hit of the same name, which became hugely popular after being featured in a TV advert, combines pop and classical music, and contains elements from contemporary pop music, sacred choral music, the classical symphony and world music. Jenkins created his own language for the vocal part, made up of sounds intended to evoke an atmosphere, devoid of meaning, open for interpretation.

His mass for peace, dedicated to the victims of the Kosovo war, The Armed Man, includes elements that unite religions, and people, from all over the world, and is one of the most frequently performed works by a living composer. The anti-war mass is written for a four-part mixed choir with two soloists (soprano and muezzin) and symphony orchestra.

In 2016 his choral work Cantata Memoria – For The Children, which he wrote to commemorate the 50th anniversary of the Aberfan disaster, where 116 children and 28 adults lost their lives when a coal tip engulfed a school in south Wales, saw its premier. Apart from depicting the tragedy, Jenkins says: “Cantata Memoria is also a celebration of childhood, gradually moving from darkness into light.”

Karl Jenkins was knighted in 2015 for his remarkable contribution to music.

Sir Karl Jenkins in an interview with Südwest Presse about his music:

“I never categorized music. It’s always the same twelve notes, and it’s all about writing something with taste and integrity, regardless of the style. Ultimately, I always compose for myself, and if people like it, then that’s wonderful.”

Selected works by Karl Jenkins

• The Armed Man by Karl Jenkins
• Adiemus by Karl Jenkins
• Palladio by Karl Jenkins
• Requiem by Karl Jenkins
• Stabat Mater by Karl Jenkins
• Cantata Memoria – For The Children by Karl Jenkins
• Piano Works by Karl Jenkins
• Choral Music by Karl Jenkins