Music : Jenkins: The Armed Man - A Mass For Peace

Rating: - Totally awesome
I ahd only heard a few of the pieces from this on Classic FM, but I went along to a live performance in Norwich - WOW IT WAS AWESOME! If you ever get the chance, SEE IT LIVE.

The pieces ranged from Spartacus-like battle-marches with Kettle Drums that made me want to get up and march around the hall, to beautiful melancholy chorals and Saving-Private-Ryanesque bugles. The haunting "now that the guns have stopped" is so moving, and would bring a tear to any veteran's eye as he remembers his fallen comrades. "Angry Flames" with its spooky chorals and minor key is fantastic, and SANCTUS with it's Omen-esque chanting, puts a chill down my spine!

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Rating: - truly ghastly
Say what you want about Jenkins, but he knows how to get the money rolling in. The difference between him and Rutter is that, in my opinion, Rutter is more than capable of writing music which would appeal to your average slightly snobby musician, but he chooses to go where the the money is and compose mainstream classical/pop which is cheesy, usually quite simple, and predictable. You can't blame him really. Jenkins, however, doesn't appear to have any talent as a composer. His themes are incredibly boring, simple and predictable. Take the Agnus Dei from the Armed Man. The Agnus theme is cringeworthy, cheesy and tuneless. It's not even catchy. The mass just does NOT work as a piece of music, even if it does manage to entertain the audience. The part writing is horrendous and there is a ridiculous amount of repetition in this piece.
I don't blame people for liking this, and if it takes non-classical music fans closer towards where the real music is, then that can only be a good thing. But please, please, don't think that Jenkins is the be all and end all. Listen to some Bach immediately.

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Rating: - Moving Music
I had never before heard the whole of this work, and expected not to like parts of it as I know only the best sections are usually picked to be played on the radio. However, this is an amazing work. It is very moving, descriptive and totally absorbing, especially when you follow the music closely with the words. I played it twice as soon as I received my copy, and I suspect it will remain a favourite of mine for a long while.

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Rating: - WOW
I bought this recording recently when i was asked to sing with a 300 member strong choir and the Countesthorpe and Guthlaxton Colleges concert band ,and i was amazed with the completley different mood of songs included. It was stunning.

From Strong and fast tempo songs to illustrate the act of battle ti the slow and emotional sound of the post-war songs in which you can actually imagine the atmosphere. I am not really into this kind of music but it is definately worth listening too.

I must admit I am so looking forward to singing in this live event and even more so now I have had the pleasure of listening to the great songs.

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Rating: - Simple, yet sublime
Jenkins was commissioned by The Royal Armouries to write this pieve for the Millenium celebration of 2000 so despite the assertions of another reviewer, this was not 'Jenkins attempt to climb on a bandwagon'.

Further, another reviewer seems to equate musical complexity with musical worth. This represents the very worst type of 'musical snobbery'. The fact that a piece is accessible does not mean that it has no worth or value.

And this piece is both accesible and enjoyable. Yes it may not be as comple as Bach or Palestrina, but I suspect that anyone who has a real heart would find themselves swept up by this music.

A very worthwhile additon to anyone's collection. In my humble opinion!