The Armed Man: A Mass for Peace by Karl Jenkins
Fri Oct 25, 19:30 - Fri Oct 25, 21:00
Musaion at University of Pretoria
ABOUT
The Armed Man: A Mass for Peace by Karl Jenkins
Over 100 choral singers will convene at both the Musaion (UP) and Voortrekker Monument together with the Capital City Philharmonic Orchestra to participate in a special performance of Karl Jenkin's The Armed Man: A Mass for Peace.
Karl Jenkins describes the build up to war, war itself and the consequences of war, combined with a strong plea for peace in this Mass. Jenkins 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”.
Large in both scope and scale “The Armed Man” it is a profoundly moving yet very accessible work which uses the most traditional of means to explore an all too contemporary subject. 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 Mahàbharàta contribute to a compelling account of the descent into and terrible consequences of war.
“The Armed Man – A Mass for Peace” received its world première in April 2000 at London’s Royal Albert Hall. In a rapturous performance, by turns visceral and ethereal, the Mass was “a firebomb of orchestral and human voices” (The Times) that drew “prolonged shouts of approval from the audience” (The Independent).
These performances will be conducted by acclaimed Hannelie van Sittert and Paul Loeb van Zuilenburg. Three choirs will participate: Wonderboom High School Choir, Magaliesberg Children's Choir, Conwonnitè Choir and will be accompanied by the Capital City Philharmonic Orchestra.