CD Charts
Welcome to The CD Charts, here you will find all the latest and top selling Music cds available to buy online. You can search and locate the best selling Music cd's and have them delivered to the door. We have a large selection of Music all with reviews.
Back to Home Page > Go back a page
Music : Jenkins: The Armed Man - A Mass For Peace
1 2 3 4 5 6 7 8 9 10
Rating: 
- Welcome return for this fifteenth century institution!
Carl Jenkins searches even further afield, for the glue that binds his epic choral works together. Rather than reaching across the globe to make an insipid approximation of the ethnic flavour of the month, Jenkins puts on his shades and takes us in his Delorean to the 15th century.
The tradition of using pop songs as a basis for sacred works may seem odd to us, especially a song of such overtly satirical content. With all due respect this reworking of an ancient form fails to live up to "Der Notenmeisters" sublime pair of exemplars.
Listening to this recording, it's difficult to wonder if Mr. Jenkins' bathroom razor isn't pointlessly multitracked with too much reverb on it.
A new direction? nah, more of the same.
Rating:
- An infinitely moving choral portraying the emotions of war.
Based around the Armed Man mass, this recent work takes the listener through the stages and emotions of battle. Beginning with warrior's prayers asking for divine help against enemies, the music then focuses on the encroaching threat in the devastating "Hymn before action".
At the centre of the work, a disturbing account of nuclear holocaust is given showing the even more horrific side of modern warfare.
After the battle, the attention falls on the survivors, highlighting the guilt that is often felt at being alive when friends and allies have fallen. The penultimate peice is a healing and uplifting Benedictus, possibly the most touching peice of all, while the final track ends the composition on a hopeful note for the future with an extract from Mallory: Better is peace than always war.
From when I first heard music from this work, I knew that I would have to buy it - it is the most moving choral work I have encountered in many years, and makes a very poignant note on the subject of war. I know it will hold it's attraction for years to come, and I look forward to hearing more of the same from Karl Jenkins
Rating: - A stunning & moving mix of classical and contemporary music
This Mass for Peace is all the more moving by it's timely release. The variation in musical styles within the piece is breathtaking, from the haunting Kyrie to the mesmerising Muslim call to prayer right through to the slightly discordant and angry 'Torches'. The lyrics are well chosen to convey the powerful message and the musical settings totally reinforce the conviction of that message. From the punchy, pugnacious start of the Armed Man, through the classic Mass pieces of Kyrie, Sanctus and Agnus Dei to the upbeat ending of 'Better is Peace' with its optimistic message of 'Ring in a Thousand Years of Peace'and the final chorale 'God Shall Wipe Away All Tears' , this work is compelling listening and a welcome development of Karl Jenkins' already prolific talent. This is a departure from his Adiemus works, but let's hope it's the first of many. Well worth a listen by any discerning Karl Jenkins fan.
Rating: - Excellent! If you like Adiemus you'll like this.
Karl departs from his Adiemus project for this album but there is still an "Adiemus" feeling to the work if only a slight one.
I particularly like the choral chanting to a sort of marching sound. I think the Latin tracks are excellent. There are some beautiful melodies - my words can't describe them! It's a great pity that the best tracks are the shorter ones - 3 mins or so in length. The 7 minute tracks are much quieter and balance out the roaring choral/marching stuff.
Overall this is a welcome addition to Karl's repertoire. I thoroughly enjoyed it and have played the CD about five times in a row which is more than I did with The Eternal Knot, Karl's last work.
I recommend it to everyone, especially all Adiemus fans.
- Welcome return for this fifteenth century institution!Carl Jenkins searches even further afield, for the glue that binds his epic choral works together. Rather than reaching across the globe to make an insipid approximation of the ethnic flavour of the month, Jenkins puts on his shades and takes us in his Delorean to the 15th century.
The tradition of using pop songs as a basis for sacred works may seem odd to us, especially a song of such overtly satirical content. With all due respect this reworking of an ancient form fails to live up to "Der Notenmeisters" sublime pair of exemplars.
Listening to this recording, it's difficult to wonder if Mr. Jenkins' bathroom razor isn't pointlessly multitracked with too much reverb on it.
A new direction? nah, more of the same.
Rating:
- An infinitely moving choral portraying the emotions of war.Based around the Armed Man mass, this recent work takes the listener through the stages and emotions of battle. Beginning with warrior's prayers asking for divine help against enemies, the music then focuses on the encroaching threat in the devastating "Hymn before action".
At the centre of the work, a disturbing account of nuclear holocaust is given showing the even more horrific side of modern warfare.
After the battle, the attention falls on the survivors, highlighting the guilt that is often felt at being alive when friends and allies have fallen. The penultimate peice is a healing and uplifting Benedictus, possibly the most touching peice of all, while the final track ends the composition on a hopeful note for the future with an extract from Mallory: Better is peace than always war.
From when I first heard music from this work, I knew that I would have to buy it - it is the most moving choral work I have encountered in many years, and makes a very poignant note on the subject of war. I know it will hold it's attraction for years to come, and I look forward to hearing more of the same from Karl Jenkins
Rating:
- A stunning & moving mix of classical and contemporary musicThis Mass for Peace is all the more moving by it's timely release. The variation in musical styles within the piece is breathtaking, from the haunting Kyrie to the mesmerising Muslim call to prayer right through to the slightly discordant and angry 'Torches'. The lyrics are well chosen to convey the powerful message and the musical settings totally reinforce the conviction of that message. From the punchy, pugnacious start of the Armed Man, through the classic Mass pieces of Kyrie, Sanctus and Agnus Dei to the upbeat ending of 'Better is Peace' with its optimistic message of 'Ring in a Thousand Years of Peace'and the final chorale 'God Shall Wipe Away All Tears' , this work is compelling listening and a welcome development of Karl Jenkins' already prolific talent. This is a departure from his Adiemus works, but let's hope it's the first of many. Well worth a listen by any discerning Karl Jenkins fan.
Rating:
- Excellent! If you like Adiemus you'll like this.Karl departs from his Adiemus project for this album but there is still an "Adiemus" feeling to the work if only a slight one.
I particularly like the choral chanting to a sort of marching sound. I think the Latin tracks are excellent. There are some beautiful melodies - my words can't describe them! It's a great pity that the best tracks are the shorter ones - 3 mins or so in length. The 7 minute tracks are much quieter and balance out the roaring choral/marching stuff.
Overall this is a welcome addition to Karl's repertoire. I thoroughly enjoyed it and have played the CD about five times in a row which is more than I did with The Eternal Knot, Karl's last work.
I recommend it to everyone, especially all Adiemus fans.