The Malta Independent on Sunday
Malta Philharmonic Orchestra presents: Jenkins’ masterpiece The Armed Man
The Malta Philharmonic Orchestra will hall be presenting The Armed Man – A Mass for Peace on Saturday, 18 May at 6pm.
The work is arguably the best renowned composition by Sir Karl Jenkins, the most popular living composer in Classic FM’s 2015 Ultimate Hall of Fame. Jenkins’ musical language, although contemporary, has a strong public appeal presenting lyrical melodies while juxtaposing traditional harmonic and rhythmic elements with more daring traits.
Commissioned by the Royal Armouries and dedicated to the victims of the Kosovo crisis, it sets the Catholic mass to music while incorporating other religious and historical sources. These include the Islamic call to prayer sung by a muezzin and texts by Swift, Tennyson and Kipling together with a selection from the Indian epic poem, the Mahābhārata. The work commences and ends with a mediaeval song, L’homme armé.
Such elements are utilised to further convey a message of peace. As such, the musical journey opens with martial themes charting a descent into the horrors of war fare, leading to mournful melodies and eventually to a final eulogy auguring for a future that overcomes sorrow.
Under the baton of resident conductor Michael Laus and featuring Francesca Aquilina (soprano), Clare Ghigo (alto), Didier Pieri (tenor), Miguel Rosales (bass), the MPO will be joining forces with KorMalta. This is the latest in a series of collaborations between the two local cultural entities during the orchestra’s current concert season.