The Armed Man (from A Mass for Peace) (arr. Robert Longfield): Concert Band Conductor Score & Parts
By Karl Jenkins / Arranged by Robert Longfield
Grade: 4
Item: 35-PK00421051
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Description
Welsh composer Karl Jenkins dedicated his landmark mass "The Armed Man" to the victims of the 1998-1999 war in Kosovo. More recently it is been associated with remembrances of 9/11. The French Renaissance song "L'homme arme" serves as the basis for the first movement of the mass, beautifully adapted here for standard concert band instrumentation. With its relentless pulse and haunting strains, this is a dramatically emotional and riveting work! Dur: c. 6:00
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Additional Details
Publisher:
Hal Leonard
SKU:
35-PK00421051
More about this title
About the Composer: Karl Jenkins
Karl Jenkins stands among the most performed living composers, with a career spanning classical composition, film scoring, and cross-genre experimentation. A Welsh musician trained at the Royal Academy of Music, Jenkins earned international recognition through his accessible yet substantive approach to large-scale sacred works. His compositions balance contemporary sensibilities with emotional directness, making them particularly resonant in educational settings.
Jenkins' "The Armed Man: A Mass for Peace" emerged from his response to the Kosovo conflict and has since become a modern touchstone for collective remembrance and reflection. The work demonstrates his gift for embedding profound meaning within structures that remain deeply performable by student ensembles, earning it a central place in the concert band repertoire.
Why we love this
This arrangement captures the moral weight of Jenkins' original conception without demanding virtuosic performance from your ensemble. The relentless pulse and haunting melodic line create immediate emotional impact, and your students will feel the significance of what they're performing rather than simply executing technical demands.
What to expect
A meditation rooted in centuries of musical tradition yet speaking directly to contemporary loss and collective memory. The piece unfolds with quiet intensity, each phrase building on the last as the ancient "L'homme arme" tune accrues meaning through repetition and layering.
Who it's for
Concert bands at the upper middle school through early high school level seeking repertoire with genuine artistic substance. Directors programming thematic concerts around peace, remembrance, or world events will find this work carries appropriate gravity without exceeding Grade 4 technical demands.
How to get the most out of it
- Maintain rhythmic precision with the underlying pulse; it anchors the piece's cumulative power. Consider marking beat patterns clearly in parts so every section locks together seamlessly.
- Balance the primary melody against the harmonic foundation. The French Renaissance tune "L'homme arme" needs to sing through the texture without drowning out the supporting voices.
- Approach dynamics with restraint initially, building intensity gradually over the course of the six minutes. Resist front-loading the emotional peak; let it develop.
- Use the recorded accompaniment strategically during sectional rehearsals to help students internalize the harmonic context around their individual lines.
How to use it
This works powerfully as a concert opener that sets a reflective tone, or as a closing statement that allows audiences to sit with the emotions they've experienced. It pairs naturally with other peace or remembrance-themed works, or can anchor a program exploring music's role in social commentary.
Skills your students will build
- Sustaining lyrical lines with proper breath control and phrasing
- Maintaining a steady, unwavering pulse across an extended form
- Blending harmonic color while keeping a single melodic line prominent
- Responding to subtle dynamic nuances that deepen emotional expression
- Understanding historical context and its connection to contemporary meaning