Karl Jenkins composed Cantata Memoria as a commemorative work exploring themes of loss, particularly remembering the children who perished in the Aberfan tragedy in 1966 when a mining spoil tipcollapsed and buried a school.
The first part of the work deals with the tragedy itself and the second part moves from darkness to light, reliving memories and celebrating childhood. Scored for Soprano, Baritone, YoungVoices, Chorus and Orchestra, Cantata Memoria sets texts by Mererid Hopwood and has been recorded by Deutsche Grammophon with vocal soloists Bryn Terfel and Elin Manahan Thomas.
