Customer Reviews
Emotional music - By: V. M. Russell, 29 May 2008 
This piece just reduces me to tears - probably because my closet friend servedin both the Falklands War & the first Gulf War.
A most moving piece of music - to anyone's ears, if only they've got ears to hear.
I am singing it with my choir this year & find it almost impossible to sing it without welling-up.
Worth every penny of the CD's price.
Meretricious pap - By: Douglas Lee, 26 May 2008 
I'm sorry but anyone who thinks this is good music needs to get out more. At best it's second-rate, at worst it's meretricious pap. For anti-war music listen to Britten's War Requiem, for settings of the mass listen to any one of a hundred composers who have done it better. Stick to Adiemus Karl, you'll never hack it as a proper composer.
surprised - By: Zamby, 30 Apr 2008 I wasn't keen on Adiemus, & wasn't expecting to like this, though I had heard bits on classic fm that grabbed my attention (while working with the radio on).
However, I do find this enjoyable from start to finish, skipping over the muezzin's prayer (which I could hear out my windowin certain locales). Maybe it is not complex, but there are surprising moments & there is plenty of passion throughout.
Obviously this is something that splits opinion, so I must be a prole. Yes, I even like Andrew Lloyd Webber at times. But then I also listen to Arvo Part, to Tavener & othersin abundance, alongside the likes of Ali Farka Toure & Santana (in his prime), so... I consider myself to be without baggage but not without ears. It's worth a listen. Make up your own mind.
The worst piece of music I have ever performed. - By: Matthew, 10 Mar 2008 I have been singing since I was a chorister at the age of 8 & I am sorry, but 17 years later this the only peace that I would never perform again. It is musically uninspiring & monotonous. I am sorry that I will be accused of being elitist but I know of no redeeming features for this work.
Simply Stunning - By: Jimmy Stix, 14 Feb 2008 
The BBC recently used the "Benedictus" from "The Armed Man" for one of it's "Natural World" programmes. I had heard this piece before but could not decide where & it drove me mad for 2-3 weeks before I finally tracked it down to Karl Jenkins & his fantastic work for the Royal Armouries. The "Benedictus" alone is a gorgeous example of writing of this highest calibre. It's wonderful how music can manage to be melancholy & uplifting & bring such peace to your heart, all at the same time. It stirs up so many emotionsin me that tears come easily.
Now that I own the whole work & have listened to it all I am now a complete Karl Jenkins convert & have lots of catching up to do. "The Armed Man" is simply stunning & should provide food for thought for anyone who has a care for the appalling things we have done & continue to do to each other.
If you love music you will not be disappointed!
