Latest news with #TheArmedMan
Otago Daily Times
25-05-2025
- Entertainment
- Otago Daily Times
Packed audience treated to powerful work
The Southern Youth Choir and Chamber Orchestra are directed by John Buchanan in a performance of The Armed Man to a capacity audience at St Paul's Cathedral in Dunedin yesterday. PHOTO: GERARD O'BRIEN Southern Youth Choir The Armed Man St Paul's Cathedral Sunday, May 25 St Paul's Cathedral was a sellout yesterday afternoon for a performance by Southern Youth Choir (director John Buchanan) of The Armed Man: A Mass for Peace. The Armed Man is an anti-war work composed in 2000 by Karl Jenkins, using liturgical Latin Mass text, prose and poetry from other religions, assembled by librettist Guy Wilson. The event began with the SYC Chamber Choir, conducted by Noah McBirney-Warner in Geistliches Leid (Brahms) and a beautiful setting of Psalm 23 The Lord is my Shepherd (Rutter), with oboe obligato and counter-melodies (Callum Fotheringham) and organ (David Burchell). The Southern Youth Choir, currently with 60 members, organ and chamber orchestra (including three percussionists) then presented an absolutely outstanding 70-minute performance, full of dynamic contrast and emotion, expressing war, horror and loss, ending with a prayer for a peaceful future. As the final words faded to silence, the entire audience sprang to a standing ovation until the very last performer had left the stage. So deserved. Choir members taking solos were soprano Rosie Auchinvole, alto Tessa Campbell, tenor Teddy Finney Waters and bass Ewen Clarke-Wallace. The opening Mass simulated a marching army with drum beat, then a gradual orchestral build-up assembled the choir, singing 15th century text The Armed Man. Style and pace matched the beginning of war; Adhaan, a Muslim call to prayer, Kyrie, Sanctus, Hymn Before Action, with text by Rudyard Kipling ("Lord grant us strength to die"). The climax came with Charge — a long drawn-out chorus of screaming and wailing depicting the worst action of war, followed by silence and Last Post (Ralph Miller). So effective. An excerpt from the poem Angry Flames, about the horrors of Hiroshima, Torches, Agnus Dei, Benedictus and lines by Tennyson's Better is Peace completed the work. Text in the programme enabled full understanding of each section in this epic, never-to-be-forgotten performance. Review by Elizabeth Bouman
Otago Daily Times
21-05-2025
- Entertainment
- Otago Daily Times
Youth choir hitting all the right notes
From standing ovations to high praise from critics, Dunedin's Southern Youth Choir is going from strength to strength. Rebecca Fox asks choir members and its director, John Buchanan, about its success. When members of the Southern Youth Choir begin to sing The Armed Man , many will be thinking of what their ancestors went through while serving in the armed forces. The "Mass for Peace" by Sir Karl Jenkins celebrates its 25th anniversary this year. Originally commissioned by the Royal Armouries Museum, it premiered at the Royal Albert Hall, London, on April 25, 2000, and was dedicated to the victims of the Kosovo crisis. Written for a choir with soloists and a symphonic orchestra, it is considered an anti-war piece, using the text of the Latin Mass and poetry and prose from around the world to tell the story of going to war and the horror and loss that results. It ends with a prayer for peace. It has been performed around the world more than 3000 times — including in New York on the 10th anniversary of 9/11. The 3000th performance was conducted by Sir Karl, celebrating his 80th birthday, at the Royal Albert Hall last year. Southern Youth Choir director John Buchanan says they selected the work as it commemorates 80 years since the end of World War 2. "I think it's an appropriate work in these times to do." Having conducted the piece twice before, Buchanan is no stranger to the work, which he describes as very relatable for an audience. "He weaves poems to it, like one of the Rudyard Kipling ones about getting ready for war, going to war. Then we know that we could be going to die. It's quite a powerful poem. It was that Victorian thing about being brave and going off to die for your country. "And then it takes you to the actual battle. And then at the end there, there's this amazing part where the choir just makes this huge noise like the sounds of battle, the sounds of people dying, really horrific-sounding and then silence." It also includes "Benedictus" played on the cello, before finally concentrating on peace being better than war. "It ends up with a beautiful unaccompanied chorale, just about God shall wipe away your tears." Choir member Kate Koller, 20, a student from Christchurch, says it is also appropriate as it is coming up to the first Matariki since the last member of the 28th Maori Battalion (Sir Bom Gillies) died. "So it's coming up to the first chance to remember him and I guess the members of the Maori Battalion, so that's special." For the choir members it is also a chance to remember their own great and great-great grandparents' contributions to various wars around the world, as well as the impact on and ramifications for their families. Soprano and New Zealand Youth Choir member Rosie Auchinvole's great-grandfather on her father's side was a Royal Air Force squadron leader who was in a plane which crashed on the Isle of Mull during World War 2. Her family went to Mull in 2015 and visited a whisky shop, which turned out to be owned by the descendants of the people who saved her great-grandfather. "It was, like, middle of winter, high up on a mountain, he had to trek through the snow in the middle of the night [to save them]. It's just a crazy, weird story." Her grandfather Chris, who was in the armed forces in the United Kingdom, but now lives in Dunedin, sings in the RSA Choir and Auchinvole, who grew up in Dunedin, is an RSA choir scholar, so they sing together sometimes. "Which is really, really cute, so that's a nice connection to The Armed Man as well." The grandfather of fellow chorister George Warren was in the British Army for most of his working life and served a lot of time in Northern Ireland during the Troubles. Holding his grandfather's medals, Warren, 25, of Kaiapoi, says his grandparents travelled to a lot of different postings over the years, and his late uncle was born in Germany while they were stationed there. "Performing this concert makes me think of Granddad in a way because, I mean, he's still with us and me and him used to attend all of the Anzac Day services together ever since I was a wee lad." That had only stopped this year as, after a car accident last year, his grandfather, who is 85, struggles to walk. Koller's great-grandfather was more like a grandfather to her, but died when she was 9. Before he died, the Royal Air Force navigator, who had been reluctant to talk about the war, spoke about his time in the Pacific. "He had some really cool stories ... [such as] one day the pilot dropped something so he bent over to pick it up right as a bullet went above his head. He had some close experiences. I think it really impacted him. My mum said her granddad was the same. He didn't talk about it at all. He survived everything he fought but he didn't talk about it ever." The worst family story for her was learning of her relatives in the mounted services having their horses killed before returning home. "I'm such a big animal lover and that has always got to me." Dunedin's Ewen Clarke-Wallace, 21, who is one of the longest-serving choir members, having joined at 15, will be remembering his great-grandfather, who died in Egypt at the beginning of World War 2. But other ancestors, two brothers from Lawrence, luckily returned from the war. Another was involved in the South African Light Horse Brigade in the Boer Wars. "It kind of just underscores the reasons why people went to war and why they actually did that. Because it's very easy to be like 'these silly people with their silly killing each other'. But they did that for a reason. And we are that reason. So it's important for me that there's, you know, both sides of that interaction." Buchanan says performing a full work like The Armed Man will be the biggest performance the choir has done in recent years. The choir will be performing the "reduced orchestration" option, so a cellist — choir member Portia Bell — flautist, three trumpets and a group of percussionists have been enlisted. Having conducted the piece before, he is impressed at how well the choir are singing it in rehearsal. "There's this wonderful youthful freshness that this choir's got. It's just wonderful." The choir was was established in 1992 by Maureen Smith and Anthony Ritchie for young singers aged 16-25, whether students or working. "It's open to all people but they're mainly university students, and it's had its ups and downs as far as numbers are concerned over the years." In recent years, they have stopped auditioning and opened the choir to anyone who has performed in a secondary school choir, and numbers have grown to about 65. The singers all enjoy the collegiality of the choir, the ability to meet others with similar interests and how it provides a break from the stress of study. The aim is to do at least two performances a year. Last year the choir performed Vivaldi's Gloria at the Big Sing, and have also performed concerts featuring a mixed bill of classical and popular music. "And those concerts got a standing ovation. They're singing really well. They are singing magnificently." Buchanan puts their success down to a change in the ethos of the choir, which has a student committee very involved in its work. "There's a good range of experience in the choir. There's people who have sung in school choirs their whole lives. There's people doing music degrees. People in national choirs. Everyone gets along." To see: Southern Youth Choir and chamber orchestra, The Armed Man , May 25, 2.30pm, St Paul's Cathedral.
Otago Daily Times
14-05-2025
- Entertainment
- Otago Daily Times
Choir marks 80th anniversary of end of WW2
Photo: supplied The Southern Youth Choir will perform Karl Jenkins' "mass for peace" The Armed Man, as it marks the 80th anniversary of the end of World War 2. The concert, to be held next Sunday, May 25, from 2.30pm in St Paul's Cathedral, will be conducted by Southern Youth Choir director John Buchanan and accompanied by organist David Burchell, pianist Sharon McLennan, and a small ensemble. Buchanan said the performance of The Armed Man would be the choir's major concert for 2025 and would include 62 singers, mainly tertiary students and some secondary students. "It is a dramatic and exciting piece, which is coming together really well in rehearsals," he said. "The choir is strong and singing really well, so I think it is going to be a special concert." Soloists from within the choir include Rosie Auchinvole (soprano), Tessa Campbell (alto), Teddy Finney-Waters (tenor), and Ewen Clarke Wallace (bass), and some sections of the piece will be conducted by student conductors. The Southern Youth Choir has been growing steadily in recent years, from a small group of 25 singers in 2021 to more than 60 singers this year. "We had a wonderful year last year, receiving standing ovations at our four concerts, which was very special — it has really spurred everyone on," he said. The choir is mainly run by a student committee, who enjoy selecting works to be performed and gaining experience in running the group. "It is a very interesting group to work with, and it's great to see them developing the skills to take the choir forward into the future," Buchanan said.
Irish Independent
21-04-2025
- Entertainment
- Irish Independent
Rachmaninov's Piano Concerto No 2 tops Classic FM poll for third year
The music topped the annual Classic FM Hall Of Fame poll with 90,000 votes cast by the public, crowning one of Rachmaninov's pieces as the nation's favourite. The Russian-born composer finished his classic concerto in 1901, after he overcame depression, and dedicated the piece to his doctor, Nikolai Dahl, who helped him through that period of his life. Meanwhile, at number two is Welsh composer, Sir Karl Jenkins, with The Armed Man: A Mass For Peace marking his highest ranking in the chart. The song was originally dedicated to victims of the war in Kosovo, with Jenkins taking this as an opportunity to highlight ongoing conflicts around the world. Jenkins said: 'I'm honoured and humbled that The Armed Man has reached its highest ever position in the Classic FM Hall Of Fame 2025, particularly as I look at all the great masters, past and present, that sit on this list with me. 'With 2025 marking the 25th anniversary of The Armed Man, I look back with great fondness to the premiere in 2000 at the first ever Classic FM Live concert, and I'm delighted that this piece has found resonance globally with so many of you over the years. It is wonderful that Rachmaninov's Piano Concerto No 2 tops the poll once again – cementing its place as a timeless masterpiece which appeals across the generations Classic FM Breakfast presenter Dan Walker 'I regret to say that there has been no let-up in war and conflict since I dedicated the piece to the victims of Kosovo, but we continue to make music in remembrance of those who have fallen, and in the hope that humanity can find a way to heal.' The number one film score was voted as the emotional soundtrack to Schindler's List, composed by John Williams, who is also behind the Jurassic Park, Star Wars and Harry Potter movie themes. The poll found that Mozart remains the nation's most popular composer, followed by Tchaikovsky, who overtook Beethoven and Bach. The chart also saw a growing number of entries for modern composers, including Italian pianist Ludovico Einaudi who had five pieces in the new Classic FM Hall Of Fame. The results were announced by Dan Walker, presenter of Classic FM Breakfast, who said: 'Every year, the Classic FM Hall Of Fame provides a fascinating insight into the nation's favourite classical music and how those music tastes are changing, and this year – the 30th Hall Of Fame – is no exception. 'It is wonderful that Rachmaninov's Piano Concerto No 2 tops the poll once again – cementing its place as a timeless masterpiece which appeals across the generations. 'It's also exciting to see the growing popularity of film music, with 37 entries this year, and increased recognition for modern and living composers. Names like Ludovico Einaudi, Phamie Gow, and, of course, the legendary Sir Karl Jenkins are climbing up the chart, showcasing how classical music keeps evolving at the same time as honouring the greats.' The Classic FM Hall Of Fame 2025 Top 20: 1. Rachmaninov – Piano Concerto No 22. Karl Jenkins – The Armed Man: A Mass For Peace3. Vaughan Williams – The Lark Ascending4. Vaughan Williams – Fantasia On A Theme5. Elgar – Enigma Variations6. Shostakovich – Piano Concerto No 27. Allegri – Miserere8. Beethoven – Piano Concerto No 5 ('Emperor')9. Beethoven – Symphony No 9 ('Choral')10. Holst – The Planets11. Williams – Schindler's List12. Beethoven – Symphony No 6 ('Pastoral')13. Shore – The Lord Of The Rings14. Morricone – The Mission (includes Gabriel's Oboe)15. Mozart – Requiem16. Ungar – The Ashokan Farewell17. Barber – Adagio For Strings18. Dvorak – Symphony No 9 ('From The New World')19. Faure – Requiem20. Mozart – Clarinet Concerto
Telegraph
21-04-2025
- Entertainment
- Telegraph
UK's favourite piece of classical music revealed
The UK's favourite piece of classical music has been revealed. Rachmaninoff's Piano Concerto No 2 has been voted the nation's favourite piece of classical music for the third consecutive year, according to the annual Classic FM Hall of Fame. The concerto topped the poll, with 90,000 votes from members of the public, beating popular favourites such as Ludwig van Beethoven's Symphony No 5 and John Williams' theme to Steven Spielberg's Schindler's List. The Russian-born composer finished his piano concerto in 1901 after struggling with depression, and dedicated the piece to Nikolai Dahl, his doctor. Its second movement was the inspiration behind Eric Carmen's All By Myself , which was sung by Celine Dion in 1996 and used in the 2001 film Bridget Jones's Diary. Sir Karl Jenkins, the Welsh composer, came second with The Armed Man: A Mass For Peace – his highest ranking in the chart. The piece came in at number four last year. The song was originally dedicated to victims of the Kosovo war, and Sir Karl said: 'I'm honoured and humbled that The Armed Man has reached its highest ever position in the Classic FM Hall Of Fame 2025, particularly as I look at all the great masters, past and present, that sit on this list with me. 'With 2025 marking the 25th anniversary of The Armed Man, I'm delighted that this piece has found resonance globally with so many of you over the years. 'I regret to say that there has been no let-up in war and conflict since I dedicated the piece to the victims of Kosovo, but we continue to make music in remembrance of those who have fallen, and in the hope that humanity can find a way to heal.' Schindler's List was the highest ranking film score this year, coming in at number 11, two places ahead of Howard Shore's Lord of the Rings. The soundtracks for Jurassic Park, Star Wars and Harry Potter also featured in the Hall of Fame but failed to make the top 20. Wolfgang Amadeus Mozart remains the nation's most popular composer, with over 13 entries, followed by Pyotr Ilyich Tchaikovsky, who overtook Beethoven and Johann Sebastian Bach. There were a growing number of entries from modern composers this year, including Ludovico Einaudi, the Italian pianist, with five entries. The results were announced by Dan Walker, the presenter of Classic FM Breakfast, who said: 'Every year, the Classic FM Hall Of Fame provides a fascinating insight into the nation's favourite classical music and how those music tastes are changing, and this year – the 30th Hall Of Fame – is no exception. 'It is wonderful that Rachmaninoff's Piano Concerto No 2 tops the poll once again – cementing its place as a timeless masterpiece, which appeals across the generations. 'It's also exciting to see the growing popularity of film music, with 37 entries this year, and increased recognition for modern and living composers. Names like Ludovico Einaudi, Phamie Gow, and, of course, the legendary Sir Karl Jenkins are climbing up the chart, showcasing how classical music keeps evolving at the same time as honouring the greats.'
