Composer

:

Karl Jenkins

Genre

:

Choral

Compose Date

:

2016

Average_duration

:

55:48

Movement_count

:

11

Movement ....

Cantata Memoria: For the Children of Aberfan is a choral work composed by Welsh musician Karl Jenkins. The piece was commissioned by S4C, the Welsh-language television channel, to commemorate the 50th anniversary of the Aberfan disaster, a catastrophic event that occurred on October 21, 1966, in the Welsh village of Aberfan. The disaster claimed the lives of 116 children and 28 adults, and left a deep scar on the Welsh community. Cantata Memoria was premiered on October 8, 2016, at the Wales Millennium Centre in Cardiff, with the BBC National Orchestra and Chorus of Wales, the Côr Caerdydd choir, and soloists Elin Manahan Thomas and Bryn Terfel. The piece is divided into nine movements, each of which reflects a different aspect of the tragedy and its aftermath. The first movement, "Cantus Lacrimosus," sets the tone for the piece with a mournful melody sung by the choir. The second movement, "Lament for the Valley," features a solo cello and a Welsh harp, evoking the landscape of the Aberfan valley. The third movement, "Song of the Bells," is a tribute to the children who lost their lives, with a children's choir singing a simple melody accompanied by bells. The fourth movement, "And They Shall Have Stars," is based on a poem by Dylan Thomas and features the baritone soloist Bryn Terfel. The fifth movement, "The Summoner," is a dramatic piece that describes the moment of the disaster, with the choir singing in a staccato rhythm and the orchestra providing a sense of urgency. The sixth movement, "Do Not Stand at My Grave and Weep," is a setting of a poem by Mary Elizabeth Frye, sung by the soprano soloist Elin Manahan Thomas. The seventh movement, "Lux Aeterna," is a hymn of hope and comfort, with the choir singing in Latin. The eighth movement, "In Memoriam," is a solemn tribute to the victims, with the choir singing a simple melody accompanied by the orchestra. The final movement, "Epilogue," is a reflective piece that brings the work to a close. Cantata Memoria is a powerful and moving work that captures the tragedy of the Aberfan disaster and pays tribute to the lives lost. Jenkins' use of Welsh folk melodies and poetry, combined with his own distinctive style, creates a work that is both deeply personal and universal in its appeal.

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