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Benedictus

Benedictus is a movement composed by Sir Karl Jenkins from his work The Armed Man. It's a piece that has brought solace in some of the most difficult moments of peoples' lives.

Sir Karl Jenkins' Benedictus is the penultimate movement from his anti-war mass, The Armed Man. Written twenty-five years ago this year and performed over three thousand times, Sir Karl dedicated it to the victims of the 1998-1999 Kosovo war. It was originally commissioned by The Royal Armouries Museum and premiered for the millennium.

The Armed Man as a whole reflects the descent into war, but the movement of Benedictus' emerges as a message of hope and peace in the aftermath. Benedictus is recognised for its haunting cello theme, in a register unusually high for this resonant instrument. The cello solo gradually expands into a full choir and orchestra.

Benedictus has given solace to listeners through some of the most difficult moments of their lives. We hear some of their stories. Featuring:

British Armed Forces Veteran Michael Young, who served in Kosovo, Iraq and Afghanistan;
Reverand Charles Thody, Priest in Lincolnshire and chaplain for the NHS;
Dane Coetzee, cellist in Cape Town, South Africa;
And the composer of Benedictus himself, Sir Karl Jenkins and his wife, Lady Carol Jenkins.

Producer: Eliza Lomas for 成人快手 Audio Bristol
Sound Engineer: Ilse Lademann
Editor: Emma Harding

Available now

28 minutes

Last on

Sun 10 Nov 2024 11:45

Broadcasts

  • Sat 9 Nov 2024 10:30
  • Sun 10 Nov 2024 11:45

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