Karl Jenkins’s large-scale choral work, The Armed Man: A Mass for Peace, continues to move audiences with its timeless message of hope, humanity and reconciliation. It’s a powerful work that Armonico Consort has performed with many hundreds of young people over the years to poignant and memorable effect.
In November, the historic and sacred spaces of Coventry, Wells and Worcester Cathedrals were the backdrop for three concerts involving multiple school choirs performing alongside Armonico Consort’s professional singers and orchestral musicians.
But, this year, Armonico’s head of outreach Nathan Cole, was keen to explore an idea to create new music and give young people a voice in its creation. The result was a two-part project at the centre of which was UK-born, Chicago-based, composer Andrew Wainwright.
Firstly, Wainwright was commissioned by Armonico to compose a major work for the assembled forces as a companion piece to The Armed Man. Taking inspiration from the evocative poetry of John Oxenham, the new work, entitled Peace in Our Time commemorates the 85th anniversary of the Coventry Blitz in 1940.
Part two of the project saw Andrew engage with children from a number of schools – virtually, from Chicago – to arrange three interludes inspired by the children’s musical ideas. With original lyrics penned by the young people, and performed live between movements of The Armed Man, each one offered a moment of reflection, bringing children’s perspectives on peace, remembrance and hope to the fore.
In Worcester and Wells, pupils from King’s St Alban’s Prep School explored remembrance, gratitude and renewal through the eyes of young people. Another interlude, Peace in All the World, was created from words and material written by children from two Coventry Special Schools.
“This project has broken new bounds for Armonico Consort. For the first time, our workshops have gone beyond singing to include composition and creative writing — developing pupils’ ideas in real time with an English composer working live from Chicago over video call. It’s been an extraordinary process of collaboration and imagination, and the result is something truly heartfelt and unique.” Nathan Cole, Director of Operations & Outreach, Armonico Consort
Posting on Facebook, where you can watch a clip of Peace in Our Time, Andrew Wainwright said:
“Last night was a truly amazing experience at Coventry Cathedral! Not only was it an incredibly moving concert to commemorate 85 years since the Coventry blitz, and to hear my music performed in such an historic venue by such fine musicians … It was also an honour to be able to compose interlude music to feature between movements of Karl Jenkins’ ‘The Armed Man’, which featured poetry and prayers written by children from local schools.” Andrew Wainwright
Let’s leave the last word to the pupils of Baginton Fields and Sherbourne Fields Special Schools, Coventry: their original lyrics convey a simple, heartfelt message, in Peace in All the World:
Peace in all the world, and in Coventry
Peace to feel content and calm
Where we feel safe and free
To be ourselves.
With thanks to Arts Council England for supporting this project.
Read more from King’s St Alban’s School on their composition workshop as part of this project.
