Come & Sing: The Armed Man

1:00pm, Sat, 21 Jan 2023

  • Event Details
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  • Type of event: Workshop
    Start time: 1:00pm
    Venue: St Paul's Church
    Reading Rd
    Wokingham
    RG41 1EX
    Description: Come & Sing: The Armed Man
    Spend the afternoon with Karl Jenkins' "The Armed Man", his Mass for Peace. Join us for a 'Come & Sing' Workshop to study this popular piece of music and finish with a sing through performance at an informal concert.

    The piece was written in 1999 as a message of hope - that the world of the future would have more peace and fewer wars - based on one particular anonymous French song called L'homme armé (the armed man), one who must be feared. In fifteenth century Europe, when the song L'homme armé first became popular, war was an omnipresent threat. The song obviously resonated with a people preoccupied with war: the armed man was indeed to be feared. A theme that still resonates strongly in present times.

    Jenkins intended it to be in memory of those who had died in the recent Kosovo conflict. It was a work that immediately appealed to audiences and entered the music lover's consciousness; one of the best examples of that happening in recent times. The Benedictus and the Sanctus are particularly well-loved and often played and performed.

    Singers under the age of 18 are welcome provided they are accompanied by an Adult also singing at this workshop.

    Note: We will be using the full Armed Man score, not just the five movement Mass score.

    If you want to buy tickets to the concert at 6pm for friends of family, click here for the Concert page