Search - Karl Jenkins, Catrin Finch :: Jenkins: Quirk - Concertos

Entertaining

Michael M. Keyton | Aurora, IL United States | 01/25/2009

(5 out of 5 stars)

"Karl Jenkins continues to amaze this listener with his variety and versatility. Quirk is a collection of concertos written during the last decade for a variety of instruments. The title concerto Quirk is for flutes, keyboards, percussion and orchestra. Like many of Jenkins' works, it is loaded with melody, tonal harmonies, and ostinatos. The last movement is particularly interesting. The opening concerto Sarikiz is for violin and orchestra, influenced by Kazakh rhythms, melodies, and instruments. La Folia is a series of variations based upon a violin sonata by Corelli for marimba and orchestra, written for Dame Evelyn Glennie, but performed here by Neil Percy. The last concerto for two harps and orchestra is entitled Over the Stone. It utilizes Welsh songs, notably the national anthem. The percussion instruments appear at times to be an added track; otherwise the recording has good presence. As a little lagniappe, the Allegretto from Palladio is included."