Cantata Memoria - Sir Karl Jenkins

David once again collaborates with Sir Karl Jenkins for the Deutsche Grammophon recording of the composer's extended work, Cantata Memoria. David features throughout the work, including Cantus Lacrimosus which also features opera star, Sir Bryn Terfel.

Line-up: Bryn Terfel/Catrin Finch/Joo Yeon Sir/Elin Manahan Thomas/David Childs/Sinfonia Cymru/Côr Caerdydd/Côr Heol y March/Côr Y Cwm/Cywair/Sir Karl Jenkins

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About the music...

A pile of debris from nearby mines had been building up just above the village of Aberfan – and in 1966 it collapsed, pouring a mass of slurry 12 metres deep on to the Pantglas Junior School.

The children of Pantglas had just arrived at their desks for the final day before the half-term holiday – the teachers were just taking the register – when a loud rumble was hear.

A survivor of the disaster, Gaynor Minett, said: “It was a tremendous rumbling sound and all the school went dead. You could hear a pin drop. Everyone just froze in their seats. I just managed to get up and I reached the end of my desk when the sound got louder and nearer, until I could see the black out of the window. I can’t remember any more but I woke up to find that a horrible nightmare had just begun in front of my eyes.”

About half of the children in the school – 116 – were killed in the disaster, as well as five of the school teachers, along with 23 other adults.

An inquiry found that the collapse had been caused by a build up of water and laid the blame at the door of the National Coal Board.

2016 marked 50 years since this disaster – one of the country's worst. And Welsh language TV channel S4C commissioned composer Sir Karl Jenkins to write a piece to mark the anniversary.

Cantata Memoria – For the Children is a work for choir and soloists and has been recorded by Welsh musicians including bass-baritone Bryn Terfel, soprano Elin Manahan Thomas, harpist Catrin Finch, euphonium soloist David Childs and Côr Caerdydd.

Sir Karl said: “Apart from depicting the disaster itself, Cantata Memoria is also a celebration of childhood, gradually moving from darkness to light. I felt privileged and humbled to have been invited to compose this piece, whilst also being mindful of the responsibility the commission carried to create something with integrity and accessibility that would connect and move everyone.”

Bryn Terfel said: “Cantata Memoria is a deeply powerful commemoration of such a sad tragedy in Wales. It has been an honour watching and hearing the piece develop into what will be a work of major significance in Welsh culture and beyond.”

The recording was released on Deutsche Grammophon on 7th October and received its world premiere performance at the Wales Milennius Centre, Cardiff.