Composer

:

Gabriel Jackson

Genre

:

Choral

Style

:

Choral

Average_duration

:

5:47

The Armed Man is a choral work composed by Gabriel Jackson in 2000. It was commissioned by the Royal Armouries Museum in Leeds to mark the millennium and to commemorate the victims of the Kosovo conflict. The piece is based on the Catholic Mass, but also includes texts from other religious and secular sources, such as the Islamic call to prayer and the Mahabharata. The Armed Man premiered at the Royal Albert Hall in London on April 25, 2000, conducted by Karl Jenkins. The work is divided into 13 movements, each with its own distinct character and mood. The first movement, "The Armed Man," sets the tone for the piece with a powerful and ominous opening. The second movement, "The Call to Prayers," features a solo soprano singing the Islamic call to prayer, accompanied by a choir and percussion. The third movement, "Kyrie," is a traditional setting of the Catholic Mass text, with a haunting melody and rich harmonies. The fourth movement, "Save Us from Bloody Men," is a setting of a text from the Book of Psalms, with a driving rhythm and intense energy. The fifth movement, "Sanctus," is another traditional setting of the Mass text, with a soaring melody and lush harmonies. The sixth movement, "Hymn Before Action," is a setting of a poem by Rudyard Kipling, with a solemn and reflective mood. The seventh movement, "Charge!" is a dramatic and intense setting of a text by John Dryden, with a driving rhythm and powerful choral writing. The eighth movement, "Angry Flames," is a setting of a text by Jonathan Swift, with a dark and brooding mood. The ninth movement, "Torches," is a setting of a poem by Edward Thomas, with a gentle and reflective mood. The tenth movement, "Agnus Dei," is another traditional setting of the Mass text, with a peaceful and serene melody. The eleventh movement, "Now the Guns Have Stopped," is a setting of a poem by Carol Ann Duffy, with a hopeful and optimistic mood. The twelfth movement, "Benedictus," is a traditional setting of the Mass text, with a joyful and celebratory mood. The final movement, "Better Is Peace," is a setting of a text by Sir Thomas Malory, with a triumphant and uplifting mood. Overall, The Armed Man is a powerful and moving work that explores themes of war, peace, and the human condition. Jackson's use of diverse texts and musical styles creates a rich and complex tapestry of sound and meaning, making it a truly unique and memorable piece of choral music.

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