Nights in armor is a suite for a cappella chorus which reflects on the themes of Arthurian legend as brought to verse by Alfred, Lord Tennyson in Idylls of the King. Each of the four songs takes the voice of a major character from the Idylls: Merlin, Lancelot, Tristram and King Arthur himself.In Arthur's final words, King Arthur lies mortally wounded on his funeral barge, having returned his sword Excalibur to the Lady of the Lake. He speaks with loyal Sir Bedivere, reflecting on the meaning of his life and the quest for ideals before his barge sails off to Avilion, the island where he is fabled to recover and return to Camelot another day.