Jenkins: The Armed Man - A Mass For Peace

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Editorial reviews

Amazon.co.uk Review
Karl Jenkins' IThe Armed Man: A Mass for Peace/I is a departure from his IAdiemus/I recordings into the more conventional territory of large-scale choral and orchestral writing, though his customary passion for mixing languages remains in full force with texts in English, Latin and French. Jenkins has said that IThe Armed Man/I was inspired by the "L'Homme armé" masses which were popular in the 16th century, and he makes this debt clear with passages written in a neat pastiche of Palestrina-style renaissance polyphony. There are also echoes of earlier and later styles, including plainchant, medieval ballads, James Barry-style horn writing (think IGoldfinger/I) and even a direct quote from IRigoletto/I (the choir imitates wind sounds at one point as in Act 3 of Verdi's opera). The smorgasbord manages to hold together, probably because Jenkins' obvious sincerity shines through every note. The London Philharmonic Orchestra plays beautifully, and treble Tristan Hambleton performs his solo with ethereal clarity. The National Youth Choir sings with vigour and accuracy, even if the young sopranos sound a little thin at the top of their range. If you liked the soundtrack to IThe Mission/I, this should press all the right buttons. --IWarwick Thompson/I

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Customer reviews

review by: date: 2009-02-22 rating:
Refreshing, modern take on classical music
This may come as a shock for some, and especially for some of the more strident reviewers here, but many people hear much classical music as turgid, boring and plain full of itself. It's not only pop, soul, rock and other genres that have the odd great moment bobbing in a sea of mediocrity but classical too, in the opinion of many. br / br /Also, it is clear that opinions are divided over Jenkins' work here even for those with an extensive classical music background. The fact is, people have different tastes and that remains true despite any musical training. Personal preferences are just that, deal with it. (I am not against negative judgments, just absolute ones. One negative reviewer offered an alternative - Briten's War Requiem - and this is exactly the kind of thing I find helpful.) br / br /For myself, I think The Armed Man is a very good piece of work. At times I find it moving and certainly it is refreshingly different to a lot of traditional classical music. Yes, it draws on more modern elements but I see that as a strength not a weakness. This may be exactly the kind of thing to draw people into other classical music since some of The Armed Man has a more immediate structure. To be honest, I was hoping for such a departure and Jenkins provides it, with style. Trying to copy what's been done already is a recipe for disaster and here I think Jenkins avoids that mistake whilst maintaining quality. br / br /In my opinion this is better than Jenkins' Adiemus, and better again than Adiemus II which to me sounds a little bit perfunctory. In the Armed Man: A Mass For Peace I perceive the emotion and sincerity behind Jenkins' music and I rate it a worthy 4.5/5. br /Darren

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review by: date: 2009-02-10 rating:
Is there music in this mass?
Let's be sincere. Jenkins is not Josquin des Prez, not even Tavener. The score is sometimes pretentious, epic and martial without any complex. A Mass for peace? or rather a military mass? I don't see the pacifist nature of this piece, I must admit I don't understand the general idea about this mass. Finally, if we forget all these points, the music is nice, the version is very good and if you find Tavener too bizarre, des Prez too difficult and you prefere music of cinema or Broadway shows you will enjoy this "mass" a lot.

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review by: date: 2008-08-10 rating:
Amazon Review a bit off
I would guess that the Amazon reviewer Warwick Thompson is under 25. br /Anyway, he writes as if he is, judging by his use of the English language br /("think Goldfinger", eeeeeeeeh!). br /He also believes that L'Homme Armee is 16th century. Oh dear. br /I find the reviews of the actual buyers much more to the point, wheher positive or negative. br /Pity that the text of the Amazon reviewer is displayed at the top. br /OK?

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review by: vicrus date: 2008-05-29 rating:
Emotional music
This piece just reduces me to tears - probably because my closet friend served in both the Falklands War and the first Gulf War. br / br /A most moving piece of music - to anyone's ears, if only they've got ears to hear. br / br /I am singing it with my choir this year and find it almost impossible to sing it without welling-up. br / br /Worth every penny of the CD's price. br /


review by: date: 2008-05-26 rating:
Meretricious pap
I'm sorry but anyone who thinks this is good music needs to get out more. At best it's second-rate, at worst it's meretricious pap. For anti-war music listen to Britten's War Requiem, for settings of the mass listen to any one of a hundred composers who have done it better. Stick to Adiemus Karl, you'll never hack it as a proper composer.

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