The Peacemakers sets words of peace from iconic, world-changing figures such as Gandhi, Nelson Mandela and Martin Luther King, along with other inspirational quotations of Mother Teresa, Albert Schweitzer, Anne Frank and the Dalai Lama.

Also included are religious texts from the Bible, the Qur’an, St Francis of Assisi and Bahá’u’lláh, and the poetry of Shelley, Malory, Terry Waite and Carol Barratt. One line from the Persian mystic poet Rumi sums up the ethos of the work: "All religions, all singing one song: Peace be with you".

Scored for soprano solo, SATB chorus, optional SSA chorus, flute, guitar (acoustic, classical or fretless bass), strings & percussion, with optional soprano saxophone, brass, timpani, solo violin and organ/electronic keyboard. English & Latin text, with ‘peace’ in many languages. Duration: 70 minutes.

CD Recording
Lucy Crowe (soprano), Chloë Hanslip (violin), Davy Spillane (Uilleann pipes), Ashwin Srinivasan (bansuri), Nigel Hitchcock and Laurence Cottle

London Symphony Orchestra, Rundfunkchor Berlin, City of Birmingham Youth Chorus, The Really Big Chorus, Karl Jenkins

The 17 short movements are performed by various combinations of the London Symphony Orchestra, the Rundfunkchor Berlin, City of Birmingham Youth Chorus and 1000-strong choral society The Really Big Chorus, made up of members of UK choirs from across the country brought together in one studio. Guest artists include violinist Chloë Hanslip, soprano Lucy Crowe, Davy Spillane on Uilleann pipes, Indian bansuri (ethnic flute) player Ashwin Srinivasan and jazz greats Nigel Hitchcock and Laurence Cottle.

Karl Jenkins conducted the world premiere of The Peacemakers at Carnegie Hall on 16 January 2012 and will introduce the work in the UK in May 2012, conducting performances at the Bridgewater Hall, Manchester, Royal Festival Hall, London, St. David’s Hall, Cardiff and Symphony Hall, Birmingham.