Adiemus consists of the Welsh composer Karl Jenkins and his Finnish "Adiemu… Read Full Bio ↴Adiemus consists of the Welsh composer Karl Jenkins and his Finnish "Adiemus Singers".

The session singer Miriam Stockley performed the vocal parts on the first four albums. Additional vocals were provided by Mary Carewe on all but Dances of Time, which saw the introduction of the Finnish Adiemus Singers (who would later reappear on Vocalise). Extra vocals and the chorus effects were created by overdubbing multitracked recordings of the singers (in some cases up to forty times) and varying the speed of the tape. Stockley was described by Jenkins as central to the Adiemus project due to her range and intonation, however for reasons that remain unclear she was not re-engaged for Vocalise.

The Songs of Sanctuary orchestra consisted of a string section augmented by various ethnic percussion instruments, with occasional further additions such as bells, a recorder and a quena. Mike Ratledge, with whom Jenkins had played in Soft Machine, contributed to the first album as well. Jenkins added brass and woodwind for Cantata Mundi, and continued to add more diverse instruments such as acoustic guitar on later albums. From Songs of Sanctuary to Dances of Time, the London Philharmonic Orchestra was used; Jenkins later formed his own Adiemus Orchestra to perform on The Eternal Knot recordings, returning to the LPO for Vocalise.

Tintinnabulum
Adiemus Lyrics

Jump to: Overall Meaning ↴ Line by Line Meaning ↴

Ei, ei ma ka ma ya.
Ei, ei ma ka ma ya.
a ma di ei.
a ma bi ei.
a ma di ei.
a ma bi ei.

Ei ma ka ma ya.

Ei, ei ma ka ma ya.
a ma di ei.
a ma bi ei.
a ma di ei.
a ma bi ei.

Ei, ei ma ka ma ya
Ei, ei ma ka ma ya
a ma di ei.
a ma bi ei.
a ma di ei.
a ba di a ma.

A ma ka aya
A, a ma di aya
a be di a
a ke ma ya
a be di a
a ke ma ya we

REFRAIN:
a ke ma ya we
a ba di a, a be di a, a be di a, a be di a
a be di a, a be di a, a be di a, a be di a

Ei, ei ma ka ma ya
Ei, ei ma ka ma ya
a ma di ei
a ma bi ei
a ma bi ei
a ba di a ma

a ma ka aya
a, a ma di aya
a ba da yei
a ke ma ya
a be di a
a ke ma ya we

[REFRAIN]

Stick:
e mus. a di e mus. a di e-ah
e mus. a di e mus. a di e-ah
e mus. a di e mus. a di e-ah
e mus. a di e mus. a di e-ah

a ki ma na ma we na ma la tis
a ki ma na ma we na ma la tis
a ki ma na ma we na ma la tis
a ki ma na ma we na ma la tis

4x:
a ya ma ye ka ma
(a ya ma yei!)
a ya ma ye ka
(a ya ma yei!)

a...

ei, ei ma ka ma ya
ei, ei ma ka ma ya
a ba di ei
a ma bi ei
a ma bi ei
a ba di a ma

a ma ka aya
a, a ma di aya
a be di a
a ke ma ya
a be di a
a ke ma ya we

[REFRAIN]

ei, ei ma ka ma ya
ei, ei ma ka ma ya
a ma di ei
a ma bi ei
a ma bi ei
a ba di a ma

a ma ka aya
a, a ma di aya
a be da yei
a ke ma ya
a be di a
a ke ma ya we

[REFRAIN]

[Stick]

[Cascaded]
a ki ma na ma we na ma la tis
a ki ma na ma we na ma la tis
a ki ma na ma we na ma la tis
a ki ma na ma we na ma la tis
a ki ma na ma we na ma la tis
a ki ma na ma we na ma la tis
a ki ma na ma we na ma la tis
a ki ma na ma we na ma la tis
a ki ma na ma we na ma la tis

4x:
a ya ma ye ka ma
(a ya ma yei!)
a ya ma ye ka
(a ya ma yei!)

Repeat until end:
ei ma ka ma amaka baya ha bai ei...

Overall Meaning

The lyrics of Adiemus's song Tintinnabulum are not in any known language but are a made-up language by the composer Karl Jenkins to fit the unique style of the song. The lyrics are rhythmic and challenging to interpret. The repetition of sounds like "ei" and "a ma di ei" creates a chant-like atmosphere.

The song's lyrics can be associated with the tintinnabulum, a bell that was used in the early Christian church. The bell was rung during the Eucharist rituals in honor of the blood and body of Christ. The repetition of words gives the impression of the bells' chime.

The song's melody and beats are characteristic of Karl Jenkins's style, which is a fusion of classical, ethnic, and world music. The song's rhythm has an African feel, and the use of the xylophone and other percussion instruments brings a tribal atmosphere to the song. The song's title, Tintinnabulum, is a Latin word that means bell, which is a tribute to the tintinnabulum and its association with the early Christian church.

Line by Line Meaning

Ei, ei ma ka ma ya.
Repeating a unique, musically sound phrase that doesn't have an attributed meaning.

a ma di ei.
Uttering something that doesn't have a particular significance.

a ma bi ei.
Mumbling something that doesn't necessarily make sense.

Ei, ei ma ka ma ya.
Repeating a unique, musically sound phrase that doesn't have an attributed meaning.

a ma ka aya
Saying something indistinguishable.

A, a ma di aya
Saying something that isn't clear or understandable.

a be di a
Mumbling something that doesn't necessarily make sense.

a ke ma ya
Repeating a musical phrase without a clear meaning.

a be di a
Mumbling something that doesn't necessarily make sense.

a ke ma ya we
Repeating a musical phrase that doesn't have a clear meaning.

a ba di a, a be di a, a be di a, a be di a
Singing nonsensical words with a musical rhythm.

a be di a, a be di a, a be di a, a be di a
Mumbling something unintelligible.

Ei, ei ma ka ma ya
Repeating a unique, musically sound phrase that doesn't have an attributed meaning.

a ma di ei
Uttering something that doesn't have a particular significance.

a ma bi ei
Mumbling something that doesn't necessarily make sense.

a ba di a ma
Saying something nonsensical.

a ma ka aya
Saying something indistinguishable.

a, a ma di aya
Saying something that isn't clear or understandable.

a ba da yei
Saying something without a clear meaning.

a ke ma ya
Repeating a musical phrase without a clear meaning.

a be di a
Mumbling something that doesn't necessarily make sense.

a ke ma ya we
Repeating a musical phrase that doesn't have a clear meaning.

a ki ma na ma we na ma la tis
Singing nonsensical sounds with a musical rhythm.

a ya ma ye ka ma
Saying something without any apparent meaning.

(a ya ma yei!)
A meaningless utterance made with a musical rhythm.

a ya ma ye ka
Repeating a nonsensical statement.

(a ya ma yei!)
A meaningless utterance made with a musical rhythm.

ei, ei ma ka ma ya
Repeating a unique, musically sound phrase that doesn't have an attributed meaning.

a ba di ei
Saying something nonsensical.

a ma bi ei
Mumbling something that doesn't necessarily make sense.

a ba di a ma
Saying something nonsensical.

a ma ka aya
Saying something indistinguishable.

a, a ma di aya
Saying something that isn't clear or understandable.

a be da yei
Saying something without a clear meaning.