Duncan Gibbs and Andrew Wainwright have transcribed 'The Armed Man: A Mass for Peace' for brass band, choir and organ. The work, by Karl Jenkins, is the only piece in the Classic FM Top 10 Hall of Fame to be composed by a living composer. The premi'e8re performance of this new transcription will be taking place this weekend in London and Karl Jenkins himself will be in attendance to give his first ever public interview at the start of the concert.

Performing the work will be Lucy Rhodes, the BBC Radio 2 Young Chorister of the Year 2003, the Exeter Festival Chorus, Middlesex University Festival Chorus and the specially formed 'Virtuosi Band' which includes; Sophie Rhodes, finalist of the BBC Radio 2 Young Brass Musician of the Year; Chris Deacon, former principal trumpet of the National Youth Orchestra of GB; Chris Turner, cornet tutor at the Royal Welsh College of Music; Owen Farr, principal horn with the Buy As You View Band; and David Childs. David commented,

'93I'92m very excited to be involved in this project. I have been a huge fan of Karl Jenkins for a long time and get a great deal of pleasure from listening to and performing his music when the opportunity arises. When I was asked to take part in this premi'e8re I was delighted to oblige together with two other fantastic musicians and friends, Owen Farr & Chris Turner.'94

In its original form, '91The Armed Man: A Mass for Peace'92 received its world premi'e8re in April 2000 at London's Royal Albert Hall and was later recorded on CD featuring Karl Jenkins conducting The London Philharmonic Orchestra and The National Youth Choir of Great Britain alongside soloists Tristan Hambleton (Boy Treble), Mohammed Gad (Muezzin) and Guy Johnston (Cello). The recording was released on September 10th, 2001 on the Virgin label and last month went '91Gold'92 when it achieved UK sales of 100,000.


About the music'85

"The Armed Man must be feared;
Everywhere it has been decreed
That everyman should arm himself
With an Iron coat of mail"

Anon c1450-1463

"The Armed Man - A Mass For Peace" is the result of a special millennial commission from the Royal Armouries and the latest in a six century old tradition of "Armed Man" masses that take the fifteenth century French song "L'Homme Arm'e9" as their starting point.

Large scale in both scope and scale "The Armed Man" is a profoundly moving yet very accessible work which uses the most traditional of means to explore an all too contemporary subject. As Karl explains, "As I started composing "The Armed Man" the tragedy of Kosovo unfolded. I was reminded daily of the horror of such conflict and so I dedicate the work to the victims of Kosovo".

In a manner reminiscent of Britten's War Requiem, "The Armed Man" interpolates a number of different texts within the usual Mass form. Malory, Dryden, Swift, Tennyson, Kipling, The Koran and the Hindu Mah'e0bhar'e0ta contribute to a compelling account of the descent into and terrible consequences of war.

Karl was very moved and much inspired by Guy Wilson's selection of texts and in his music for "The Armed Man" has drawn on a similarly diverse array of cultural and historical sources. It's difficult to think of another composer who could successfully place a muezzin's call to prayer within a Mass setting and follow it with a Kyrie that quotes both Palestrina and Brazilian drum rhythms. That Karl does so with such ease and to such powerful effect is a tribute to his remarkable skill and musical sensitivity.



Photo: Karl Jenkins


Concert details'85

Tickets are priced at 'a315, 'a39.50 and 'a36.50 (Concessions) and are available
on the door of the chruch or you can order by calling 07906 242 319 or 07985 901 519. The concert commences at 7.30pm and will take place at St John the Baptist Church, Chipping Barnet, London, on the junction of Wood Street and High Street. See below for further details and map.




Map: