The Armed Man - A Mass For Peace: 2LP

Karl Jenkins' The Armed Man: A Mass for Peace is a departure from his Adiemus 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 The Armed Man 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 Goldfinger) and even a direct quote from Rigoletto (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 The Mission, this should press all the right buttons. 

Tracklist:
Side A
1. The Armed Man - A Mass For Peace: I. The Armed Man
2. The Armed Man - A Mass For Peace: II. The Call to Prayers (Adhaan)
3. The Armed Man - A Mass For Peace: III. Kyrie
4. The Armed Man - A Mass For Peace: IV. Save Me from Bloody Men

Side B
5. The Armed Man - A Mass For Peace: V. Sanctus
6. The Armed Man - A Mass For Peace: VI. Hymn Before Action
7. The Armed Man - A Mass For Peace: VII. Charge!

Side C
8. The Armed Man - A Mass For Peace: VIII. Angry Flames
9. The Armed Man - A Mass For Peace: IX. Torches
10. The Armed Man - A Mass For Peace: X. Agnus Dei
11. The Armed Man - A Mass For Peace: XI. Now the Guns Have Stopped

Side D
12. The Armed Man - A Mass For Peace: XII. Benedictus
13. The Armed Man - A Mass For Peace: XIII. Better Is Peace
14. For the Fallen: In Memoriam Alfryn Jenkins