Been meaning to post about this for a while. PiperDad is in the local philharmonic chorus. Before Christmas, Mrs. Piper and I went to see PiperDad singing in The Armed Man: A Mass for Peace, by Jenkins. It was one of the best choral pieces I’ve ever heard. It’s innovative and extremely moving.
PiperDad told us that during practices, when they were working on individual pieces, they found it a bit disjointed, but the more they worked on it and saw the connexions between the different pieces, the more it came together. From our perspective in the audience, we were drawn in right from the start, as the entire chorus marched in place while singing a 14th century French song about war (the “armed man” of the title). Put that way it sounds odd, but trust me - it really works.
The audience was on their feet in an instant at the end - not one of those half-hearted “oh, people are starting to stand up, so I should too” silly things, but a true spontaneous gesture of enthusiasm and respect. The applause was thunderous and continuous. PiperDad has told us that in the past month, he’s got more comments on that one concert than on any other that the chorus has done in the 10 years he’s been with it, including people asking if they’re going to do it again next year, like “Messiah”.
So, if you’re at all interested in choral and orchestral works and this is on in your neighbourhood - Go! And if you’re in a chorus (looking at you, Cunctator) and you’re planning what to do next, take a good look at this piece.
Northern Piper, as I noted in this previous thread (no replies, sadly) I first heard this wonderful work last year. I quickly got hold of a full recording of it. I’ve already suggested to our musical director that it go onto the choir’s “to sing” list. It’s rather a long list though, so I can but hope…
Still, we’ve just done some yummy things this morning with the church choir for Septuagesima Sunday, so I shouldn’t complain too much.
missed that thread last March, but I probably wouldn’t have commented, since I’d not heard it then. I’d push hard to move it up your choir’s ‘to-do’ list - PiperDad had a great time singing it, and the community really responded to it.
Plus, there’s the glamour of doing a new piece. They think that the performance here was the first time it was put on in western Canada.
My church choir performed it earlier this year, and it was wonderful. Several members of our choir are in New York right now (as we speak!) rehearsing at Carnegie Hall to perform it in a day or two…I think it is Monday night at 9 pm, but maybe it’s Sunday night…anyhow, it was a big honor to be asked to participate, and I wish I could have gone with them…such a thrill! The Mass is a very, very moving piece, and difficult to sing on many levels…we got very emotional during what I irreverently refer to as the “Burning Bunnies” movement…and my French is phonic at best so I stumbled through that part…but I still find myself singing bits of it in the car.
The program warned the audience that would be some loud percussion effects, but even so, when the kettle drum let loose suddenly with big booms to represent cannon, there was a little shriek from an audience member sitting close to the drum. Just one of the bits that made it stand out. 
Wow. I definitely need to get a recording of this, based on your collective recommendations.
wow, kittenblue - church choir does Carnegie Hall! your choir must have a great sound to get that invite!
Yes, do. I could listen to the *Benedictus * movement over and over again forever. So simple, yet so incredibly moving.