Composer

:

Karl Jenkins

Genre

:

Vocal

Average_duration

:

4:43

Benedictus is a choral piece composed by Karl Jenkins as part of his larger work, The Armed Man: A Mass for Peace. The piece was composed in 1999 and premiered in London in the same year. The Armed Man is a mass that was commissioned by the Royal Armouries Museum to mark the turn of the millennium and to commemorate the victims of the Kosovo conflict. Benedictus is the fifth movement of The Armed Man and is a setting of the Latin text of the Benedictus, which is part of the Sanctus in the Catholic Mass. The piece is scored for choir, solo cello, and orchestra. The cello plays a prominent role in the piece, with a haunting melody that weaves in and out of the choral texture. The piece begins with a solo cello playing a mournful melody, which is then taken up by the choir. The text of the Benedictus is sung in Latin, with the choir alternating between homophonic and polyphonic textures. The piece builds to a climax with the choir singing "Hosanna in excelsis" (meaning "Hosanna in the highest"), before subsiding into a quiet and reflective coda. The characteristics of Benedictus are reflective of the overall style of The Armed Man. Jenkins draws on a variety of musical influences, including classical, jazz, and world music, to create a unique and eclectic sound. The piece is characterized by its use of modal harmonies, rhythmic complexity, and lush orchestration. The use of the solo cello adds a sense of intimacy and emotional depth to the piece. Overall, Benedictus is a powerful and moving piece of music that captures the spirit of The Armed Man: A Mass for Peace. Its haunting melody and reflective mood make it a standout movement in the larger work, and it has become a popular piece in its own right, often performed as a standalone choral work.

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