Composer

:

Karl Jenkins

Genre

:

Choral

Style

:

Choral

Compose Date

:

1999

Average_duration

:

67:15

Movement_count

:

13

Movement ....

The Armed Man: A Mass for Peace is a choral work composed by Welsh musician Karl Jenkins. It was commissioned by the Royal Armouries Museum in Leeds, England, to mark the turn of the millennium and to commemorate the victims of the Kosovo conflict. The work premiered on April 25, 2000, at the Royal Albert Hall in London, conducted by Jenkins himself. The Armed Man is a mass setting that consists of thirteen movements, each with its own unique character and style. The work draws on a variety of musical influences, including classical, jazz, and world music, and features a large choir, soloists, and orchestra. The first movement, "The Armed Man," sets the tone for the entire work with its ominous and foreboding atmosphere. The second movement, "The Call to Prayers (Adhaan)," features a Muslim muezzin calling the faithful to prayer, followed by a Christian choir singing the Kyrie Eleison. The third movement, "Kyrie," is a traditional setting of the Latin text, while the fourth movement, "Save Me from Bloody Men," is a setting of Psalm 59. The fifth movement, "Sanctus," features a solo soprano singing a haunting melody over a pulsing rhythm. The sixth movement, "Hymn Before Action," is a setting of a poem by Rudyard Kipling, which celebrates the bravery of soldiers before battle. The seventh movement, "Charge!" is a dramatic and intense depiction of battle, with the choir and orchestra creating a sense of chaos and violence. The eighth movement, "Angry Flames," is a setting of a poem by Hiroshima survivor Tamiki Hara, which describes the horror of the atomic bomb. The ninth movement, "Torches," is a setting of a poem by Guillaume Apollinaire, which celebrates the beauty of a night sky illuminated by torches. The tenth movement, "Agnus Dei," is a traditional setting of the Latin text, while the eleventh movement, "Now the Guns Have Stopped," is a setting of a poem by Jenkins himself, which reflects on the aftermath of war. The twelfth movement, "Benedictus," features a solo cello playing a mournful melody over a choir singing a traditional Latin text. The final movement, "Better Is Peace," is a joyful and uplifting celebration of peace, with the choir and orchestra creating a sense of hope and optimism. Overall, The Armed Man is a powerful and moving work that explores the themes of war, peace, and reconciliation. Its diverse musical influences and innovative use of text and instrumentation make it a unique and compelling addition to the choral repertoire.

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