The Armed Man – A Mass for Peace

The Armed Man  was written in the run up to the end of the second millennium, following several years of very bitter, destructive wars in the Balkans.   It starts by charting the growing menace of a descent into war, interspersed with moments of reflection .  The music and texts then highlight the horrors that war inevitably brings, leading to a finale which expresses a strong hope for peace in the next millennium.

The text comes from varied sources.  Several sections of the Christian Mass are used, along passages from two books of the Bible—Psalms and Revelation.  Other sources are the Moslem Call to Prayer (Adhaan), the Hindu Mahabhatara ,and English poets Tennyson, Kipling (who lost his only son in the First World War), Swift and Dryden, and Sankichi Toge from Japan.

The work was commissioned from Karl Jenkins by the UK Royal Armouries and the Armouries’ then Master, Guy Wilson.

Off street parking is available at Dee Why Grand (7 minute walk), at Meriton Lighthouse (Woolworths) (7 minute walk), next to St Kevin’s Church (5 minute walk), at the Council offices (10 minute walk) and at Dee Why Beach (10 minute walk).

Tickets available from October 10th through TryBooking
and from 0411 777 738 or 0432 565 798

Click here to purchase tickets.