2023-26
The Armed Man – Sir Karl Jenkins – Sat 20th June 2026
War and Peace
Our current fractious world needs, indeed yearns, for more harmony, more togetherness, more joy. At All Saints Church in Maidstone last night we had all those qualities in abundance. Our spirits were encouraged to soar in a concert by Maidstone Wind Symphony and The Maidstone Singers Extended Choir on a gloriously balmy evening.
A Buddhist meditation by David Maslanka opened the concert sensitively conducted by Roger Graham with the Maidstone Wind Symphony (all talented amateur musicians) drawing us into a state of calm reflection as the music drifted around this stunning grand church. This piece entitled Give Us This Day set the spiritual tone for the evening.
O Magnum Mysterium by Morton Lauridsen is a ‘quiet song of profound inner joy’. The Wind Ensemble were led gently and precisely by Roger Graham through this popular piece.
The first half closed with the surging, uplifting Alleluia Laudamus Te by Alfred Reed raising spirits to the ornate gilded roof. A triumphant recitation leaving us in need of interval refreshment to feed the body after the soul had been sated.
And what a second half. Karl Jenkins’ The Armed Man sung with passion by The Maidstone Singers. The piece is almost a musical documentary which traces both the bravery of soldiers and the utter futility of war. The choir marching on the spot set the tone. It is not simply an anti-war diatribe. It is much more subtle and, therefore, persuasive. Jenkins composed the piece as he daily watched the unfolding genocide in Kosovo. This Muslim-majority now independent country no doubt inspired him to include The Call to Prayers. This was a particularly poignant moment as Adi Usmani took to the pulpit to sing the Call in Arabic. A Call to Prayers in an Anglican church – what better message of tolerance, mutual understanding could there be rather than blind, ignorant hatred. Fly a flag for that alone.
The Kyrie eleison was sung with great feeling by The Maidstone Singers with all eyes on their conductor Kathryn Ridgeway who did seem to live every nuance, every twist and turn. Her direction of the percussionists as they created an ambience of hope and horror was masterful.
We are then with the soldiers (helped by war images projected on a screen) as they prepare to go over the top almost certainty to their deaths. This is the slow, brutal horror of All Quiet on the Western Front as in the film a twisted bloodied hand in the mud slowly stills of life.
The Agnus Dei was sensitively sung with strident dignity and we are with the soldiers who have survived staring at their dead mates. Has there ever been a more beautifully composed cor anglais solo for the Benedictus? Jenkins was himself a skilled oboist (listen to Soft Machine Six) and this solo is played beautifully.
A panoply for peace closes the Armed Man with Tennyson’s words “Ring out the thousand wars of old, ring in the thousand years of peace”. As we all headed home in the warm evening air with hope renewed by this performance maybe we could see a new light in these dark times. Music matters more than ever. Thank you to all the performers.
Richard Dove
Christmas Caroling at Ightham Mote, December 2025
The Maidstone Singers at the VE Day 80th Anniversary Concert & Service of Remembrance at All Saints on May 10th 2025 with Marconi Brass and the Brompton & Invicta Military Wives Choir.
The Maidstone Singers Come & Sing Event 1st February 2025: Choruses from Handel’s ‘Messiah’
Photo courtesy of Chas Bedford
“Congratulations to you for, as always, making a rehearsal so inspiring. Malcolm is brilliant and well done to Brian and Dave who also did a super job with the narration. Would you thank the whole team please as everyone was really welcoming and the food was just amazing! It was a really enjoyable afternoon!”
“What a fantastic Singing Day on Saturday, I came home on a high. Thank you for everything, including the buffet. Fantastic! I intend to book for the events in June.”
“Saturday’s event was excellent, both from a musical point of view and also from a hospitality one! The use of a narrator was a very clever idea indeed. I felt tired after it – you must have been utterly exhausted! All the TMS ‘team’ deserve a big thank you!”
