Customer Reviews

Karl Jenkins: The Armed Man, A Mass for Peace

5 star:		(25)
4 star:		(12)
3 star:		(3)
2 star:		(0)
1 star:		(1)

 

 

Karl Jenkins music is fresh without it being weird, familiar without it being cliched. His approach to harmonic progression is structured and logical, yet still is wonderfully original. Of the CDs I have of his, this is the most traditional in style. It is inspiring and intriguing, but on first listen, parts of it come off as a little ordinary. On second or third listen, however, the originality and craftsmanship comes through. I taught my choir the Sanctus; it was easy to learn, and after we sang it on a Sunday as a prelude, we received several favorable comments from the congregation. (The most puzzling was "I loved the Gregorian Chant you sang.."!! The only thing the Sanctus shares with Gregorian chant is the Latin..) Still, the choir loves it, the congregation loves it, and my middle-school and high-school daughters love listening to the up-tempo numbers in the car.

As written in other reviews, this piece is very accessible, perhaps not easy to listen to because of the subject matter, but accessible to all. The first time I listened to it, I was overwhelmed. However, as a fan of earlier 20th century and late 19th century romantic works, I have not found this disc as captivating past one listening as some of these other works, for example, the Dona Nobis Pacem by Ralph Vaughan-Williams, as mentioned in another review. The length of the piece relies on repetition, ad nauseum, which is used to great effect in some places (movement 7 comes to mind), but is used constantly throughout the piece without much harmonic, melodic, or textual variation.

All in all, I think it is a very beautiful and noble piece, with a very noble goal (which we should all strive toward in the 21st century), but will not have the shelf life in my listening as most of my favorites.

What a wonderful way to remember the last century! What a way to meditate on the prospect of peace or war in this one. This selects from the styles and melodies most primal and meaningful. At least it seems so while listening to them. I first became familiar with Karl Jenkins Mass when it was selected for Sacred Concert on Sunday morning and was so taken with it I almost stayed in the car to hear the end rather than go into church from the parking lot! I searched for it at our local libraries that afternoon and not finding it there took the plunge to order it from Amazon to add to my already overstuff Amazon furnished house. With the way this century is going so far this mass has good reason to be played over and over again.

Very listenable, ambitious yet the music doesn't suffer for service to an ideal. On several plays, there are many ideas that could have been followed through with more complete development. Jenkins does tend to follow certain patterns but he does so very well. And his eclecticism works with an unforced feeling. Very much a relief to hear a modern composer that doesn't shun being appealing, lyrical, and melodic.

This is a marvelous piece of music and reminds me of Dona Nobis Pacem by Williams which is my all time favorite. The various movements are relatively simple but very dramatic and the melodies stay with one for a long time. I highly recommend it.

This is one of the most beautiful Masses I have every heard and will have the pleasure to perform! It is truly a work of art. The Orchestral parts are just as important as the Vocal score. In most movements the orchestra doubles the vocal parts. Jenkins has brilliantly crafted a masterpiece and the power of the words, taken from many sources including the Bible and Rudyard Kipling makes this one of the greatest works of our time.

You must hear this Mass!!!! A must to perform!!!! A must to own!!!!

I first heard of this piece when I discovered our local orchestra (which I am in) was to be performing the American premier. Sadly, I waited a long while to get this music, and I am very disappointed in myself that I did.
Jenkins score is both complex and simple, tragic and beautiful all at once. Beautiful music, ranging from incredible dynamics to astounding chorals and so much more, this is certainly worth having on in the backround.
Powerful text and music swirl into a marvelous combination making this an excellent piece that is certainly worth owning. Particularly the Hymn Before Battle and Charge!, which present some of the best music of this recording.
Ten stars, definitely worth getting!

This 3-year-old work is a modern classic -- both powerfully conceived and craftily composed. The recording with the National Youth Choir of Great Britain is just wonderful. After hearing it a few times, I decided that we're going to perform it in Minneapolis next spring for a weekend built around the subject of peace. The music is published by Boosey and Hawkes, London.

Although I had heard only the "Kyrie" from this music composition, I was very surprised to find the rest of the work very interesting and charming to my ears, which is one the assets I look for when I listen to new musical pieces. It is a modern piece but with a touch of classical harmony to the chorals. Loved it.

Tired of the standard baroque; oversatiated with theme albums:'midnight favoritites" etc. ; if so try Karl Jenkins and travel to a music space you've longed for but never visited for more than a few chords; vigorous yet sublime; martial yet peaceful and altogether beautiful. FPB ann arborMichigan USA