0:00:00 > 0:00:00- Subtitles
0:00:00 > 0:00:02- Subtitles- - Subtitles
0:00:04 > 0:00:09- Today, Aberfan is an - unremarkable village near the A470.
0:00:12 > 0:00:13- But 50 years ago...
0:00:14 > 0:00:18- ..crossing the path where the busy - dual carriageway is today...
0:00:18 > 0:00:23- ..a coal slag heap flowed like - a black river into the village...
0:00:23 > 0:00:26- ..and straight at - Pantglas Junior School.
0:00:27 > 0:00:30- A register of children - lost their lives.
0:00:30 > 0:00:34- # Antony John Sullivan
0:00:35 > 0:00:38- # John Islwyn Jones #
0:00:40 > 0:00:43- The news spread like wildfire.
0:00:43 > 0:00:48- The terrible loss struck a chord - with families across the world.
0:00:53 > 0:00:57- To commemorate the tragedy, - S4C has commissioned a work...
0:00:58 > 0:01:00- ..by chief bard Mererid Hopwood...
0:01:00 > 0:01:04- ..and the most popular contemporary - composer in the world...
0:01:04 > 0:01:09- ..Sir Karl Jenkins - - Cantata Memoria, For the Children.
0:01:11 > 0:01:15- The commission is a recognition - that there's a close relationship...
0:01:15 > 0:01:19- ..between a nation's language - and its memory.
0:01:19 > 0:01:23- Our joint memories are crucial.
0:01:23 > 0:01:25- They shape us as people.
0:01:25 > 0:01:30- Despite how incredibly sad - the story of Aberfan is...
0:01:30 > 0:01:33- ..it's a very big part of our story - as Welsh people.
0:01:37 > 0:01:42- As part of the preparations for the - premiere at the Millennium Centre...
0:01:42 > 0:01:45- ..the work was recorded - with Sinfonia Cymru...
0:01:45 > 0:01:48- ..at the Beatles' home, - Abbey Road Studios...
0:01:49 > 0:01:53- ..and Welsh choirs - at Acapela studio, Pentyrch.
0:01:54 > 0:01:56- # Twrw, twrw #
0:01:57 > 0:02:01- The soloists - went to Karl's own studio in Soho.
0:02:01 > 0:02:03- Sorry I'm a bit late, Karl.
0:02:03 > 0:02:05- Sorry I'm a bit late, Karl.- - The baritone, Bryn Terfel.
0:02:05 > 0:02:06- Good beard.
0:02:07 > 0:02:08- The soprano, Elin Manahan Thomas.
0:02:08 > 0:02:11- The soprano, Elin Manahan Thomas.- - Take me off it later!
0:02:11 > 0:02:14- Euphonium player, David Childs.
0:02:15 > 0:02:17- Harpist, Catrin Finch.
0:02:17 > 0:02:20- And the young violinist - from South Korea...
0:02:20 > 0:02:23- ..winner of the Classic FM - Karl Jenkins Music Award...
0:02:24 > 0:02:26- ..for instrumentalists, - Joo Yeon Sir.
0:02:26 > 0:02:29- Can I hear the 49 on that take?
0:02:35 > 0:02:37- Karl sent me the disk.
0:02:37 > 0:02:40- I was on the way to London. - I put it on in the car.
0:02:40 > 0:02:42- I had to stop at service stations.
0:02:43 > 0:02:46- You know the story - and why the music was written.
0:02:49 > 0:02:53- I saw the score some months back - and I cried for an hour.
0:02:53 > 0:02:56- It's a very powerful piece.
0:02:56 > 0:03:00- The work is music and a poem. - It's not a documentary.
0:03:00 > 0:03:03- It's a journey - from darkness to light.
0:03:03 > 0:03:07- We've written a work from two hearts - that speaks to many.
0:03:08 > 0:03:13- # Agnus dei #
0:03:15 > 0:03:18- In the 20 years - we've known each other...
0:03:18 > 0:03:23- ..I think this is the most important - work of his that I've recorded...
0:03:23 > 0:03:28- ..and the one where I've most wanted - to find out the ideas in his work.
0:03:33 > 0:03:38- But where do you start doing justice - to such a tragic event?
0:03:38 > 0:03:43- Here's how Mererid and Karl - went about creating the work.
0:03:43 > 0:03:46- It starts with raindrops - in the orchestration.
0:03:46 > 0:03:51- "Pitran patran, titrwm tatrwm"...
0:03:51 > 0:03:53- ..conveys the raindrops.
0:03:53 > 0:03:58- It wasn't heavy rain at the start - but the menace increases.
0:03:59 > 0:04:02- # Pitran, patran, titrwm, tatrwm
0:04:02 > 0:04:06- # Dagrau agos, dagrau glaw #
0:04:06 > 0:04:11- Local historian Dr Elin Jones - remembers the time clearly.
0:04:11 > 0:04:14- # Cysgu blantos bore ddaw #
0:04:14 > 0:04:19- At 9.15am on 21 October 1966...
0:04:20 > 0:04:24- ..a man called Robbie - who was driving past in a lorry...
0:04:24 > 0:04:26- ..saw a mountain moving.
0:04:26 > 0:04:30- It was heading straight for - the village of Aberfan...
0:04:30 > 0:04:36- ..to a school where the children - had assembled for the daily service.
0:04:37 > 0:04:42- The story is that they were singing - All Things Bright And Beautiful.
0:04:43 > 0:04:47- # All things bright and beautiful
0:04:47 > 0:04:51- # All creatures great and small
0:04:51 > 0:04:54- # All things wise and wonderful
0:04:55 > 0:04:58- # The Lord God made them all #
0:04:59 > 0:05:02- I don't know if that was the hymn - they were singing...
0:05:03 > 0:05:06- ..but they did sing - All Things Bright And Beautiful....
0:05:06 > 0:05:08- ..like children do today.
0:05:08 > 0:05:09- It's a lovely hymn.
0:05:09 > 0:05:12- The words by Mrs Alexander - were written in Wales.
0:05:12 > 0:05:15- That makes it even more ironic...
0:05:15 > 0:05:19- ..considering it's about rejoicing - in the beauty of nature...
0:05:19 > 0:05:23- ..and the world around you, - which has been created by God.
0:05:23 > 0:05:27- # All things wise and wonderful
0:05:27 > 0:05:31- # The Lord God made them all #
0:05:34 > 0:05:36- The tip was created by men.
0:05:36 > 0:05:39- There was a stream - under the slag heap...
0:05:40 > 0:05:43- ..so it shouldn't have been there - in the first place.
0:05:43 > 0:05:45- It had been shifted.
0:05:45 > 0:05:48- It had been shifted.- - # Twrw #
0:05:48 > 0:05:52- Words like "twrw" - rumbling - and "bwrw" - hitting...
0:05:52 > 0:05:55- ..and "bwrw glaw" - rain...
0:05:55 > 0:05:58- ..are important - in creating the sounds.
0:05:59 > 0:06:02- It helped in the intensity - of the music.
0:06:02 > 0:06:04- # Twrw, bwrw #
0:06:04 > 0:06:10- The water and the slag heap - formed a kind of slurry...
0:06:10 > 0:06:13- ..which slid down the mountain.
0:06:13 > 0:06:16- It went through a farm, - which was wiped off the map.
0:06:17 > 0:06:18- # Bore, bore, bore #
0:06:18 > 0:06:22- It came down on that village, - like Armageddon.
0:06:28 > 0:06:30- # Nothing
0:06:33 > 0:06:36- # Dim
0:06:39 > 0:06:42- # In that black silence
0:06:43 > 0:06:50- # Not a sound #
0:06:53 > 0:06:55- The word "dim" - nothing.
0:06:55 > 0:06:59- "Dim byd" sounds strong in Welsh.
0:07:00 > 0:07:02- "Dim byd."
0:07:02 > 0:07:08- Then, taking that from the nursery - rhyme Heno, Heno, Hen Blant Bach.
0:07:08 > 0:07:12- # Heno, heno, hen blant bach
0:07:13 > 0:07:17- # Gwely, gwely, hen blant bach #
0:07:17 > 0:07:19- I remember talking to a nurse.
0:07:19 > 0:07:22- She had just finished her shift - in the hospital.
0:07:22 > 0:07:29- She went straight to Aberfan in - her uniform to help the injured...
0:07:29 > 0:07:33- ..but ended up - washing the bodies of the children.
0:07:33 > 0:07:36- # Pa, pa, pa, pa, pa, pa
0:07:37 > 0:07:39- # Paham, paham
0:07:39 > 0:07:41- # Paham, paham
0:07:41 > 0:07:44- # Paham, paham
0:07:44 > 0:07:46- # Paham, paham #
0:07:46 > 0:07:51- Then the word "paham" - why, - leads us on to Myfanwy.
0:07:52 > 0:08:00- # Paham mae dicter, O Myfanwy
0:08:01 > 0:08:09- # Yn llenwi'th lygaid duon di #
0:08:10 > 0:08:13- Myfanwy is a famous Welsh song - written by Joseph Parry.
0:08:14 > 0:08:18- He was from Merthyr, - within a stone's throw of Aberfan.
0:08:18 > 0:08:21- Some soldiers were heard - to be singing this...
0:08:22 > 0:08:24- ..as they were recovering bodies.
0:08:30 > 0:08:32- It also had another resonance.
0:08:32 > 0:08:37- After the disaster, the men decided - to form Ynysowen Male Choir...
0:08:37 > 0:08:40- ..and that was the first song - they sang.
0:08:40 > 0:08:45- # Fu'n cynnau - 'nghariad ffyddlon ffol?
0:08:46 > 0:08:54- # A dyro'th law, Myfanwy dirion
0:08:54 > 0:09:03- # I ddim ond dweud - y gair "Ffarwel" #
0:09:06 > 0:09:11- The sound that he has created - with the euphonium is astonishing.
0:09:11 > 0:09:12- I used to play the cello...
0:09:13 > 0:09:16- ..and that was the instrument - I heard in my head...
0:09:17 > 0:09:19- ..playing these - plaintive melodies...
0:09:20 > 0:09:24- ..but the euphonium makes the work - so much more powerful.
0:09:24 > 0:09:29- The next step is to respect - the memory of each individual.
0:09:33 > 0:09:38- It's very difficult to listen - to the funereal list of names.
0:09:39 > 0:09:43- # Antony John Sullivan
0:09:44 > 0:09:48- # John Islwyn Jones
0:09:49 > 0:09:53- # Marilyn Carol Howells
0:09:54 > 0:09:58- # Clive and Philip Mumford
0:10:01 > 0:10:04- # Benedictus #
0:10:04 > 0:10:06- There is absolutely no doubt.
0:10:06 > 0:10:10- Those children's lives were lost - because of men's negligence.
0:10:11 > 0:10:14- The children had done nothing - to deserve this.
0:10:14 > 0:10:17- They were - just innocent little children...
0:10:17 > 0:10:19- ..just little children.
0:10:20 > 0:10:26- Thinking about them - and the way they died is terrible.
0:10:27 > 0:10:32- And to think it happened because of - apathy, because of negligence...
0:10:32 > 0:10:34- ..because life is cheap.
0:10:35 > 0:10:38- It made people so angry.
0:10:41 > 0:10:45- The last thing I wanted to do - was lay the blame on anyone...
0:10:46 > 0:10:49- ..but there was a need - for some acknowledgement...
0:10:50 > 0:10:53- ..of the unique circumstances - of this tragedy.
0:10:53 > 0:10:56- One phrase that resonates...
0:10:56 > 0:11:01- ..is a father saying - that the children had been...
0:11:02 > 0:11:05- .."buried alive - by the National Coal Board".
0:11:05 > 0:11:08- Those words are there - but they blend with...
0:11:08 > 0:11:11- .."bwrw glaw man - ac mae'r dagrau yn disgyn"...
0:11:11 > 0:11:14- ..drizzling rain and - the tears are falling.
0:11:14 > 0:11:19- # Bwrw glaw man - ac mae'r dagrau yn disgyn
0:11:19 > 0:11:23- # Bwrw, bwrw, bwrw, bwrw
0:11:24 > 0:11:29- # Buried alive - by the National Coal Board
0:11:29 > 0:11:34- # Buried, buried, buried, buried
0:11:34 > 0:11:42- # Buried #
0:11:45 > 0:11:45- .
0:11:47 > 0:11:47- Subtitles
0:11:47 > 0:11:49- Subtitles- - Subtitles
0:11:51 > 0:11:55- Cantata Memoria's fourth movement - is called Lament for the Valley.
0:11:55 > 0:12:00- The composer has combined - the Latin words of Agnus Dei...
0:12:00 > 0:12:04- ..with a striking violin solo.
0:12:04 > 0:12:09- Without doubt, the lament - has had an impact on the performers.
0:12:16 > 0:12:18- # Agnus #
0:12:19 > 0:12:22- On a journey - back home from Cardiff...
0:12:22 > 0:12:28- ..my parents decided to detour - from the A470 to Aberfan.
0:12:28 > 0:12:31- I can't have been much more - than 10 years old.
0:12:31 > 0:12:35- I'd done work on the disaster - at school.
0:12:36 > 0:12:41- To start, what was the school - called? Pantglas primary school.
0:12:41 > 0:12:43- I was born in a village - called Pant Glas.
0:12:43 > 0:12:46- What's the cemetery called?
0:12:46 > 0:12:47- Bryn Taf.
0:12:47 > 0:12:50- # Peccata mundi #
0:12:54 > 0:13:01- Without a doubt, it left me - with a very strong, sad memory.
0:13:02 > 0:13:07- # Lacrimosa dies illa
0:13:07 > 0:13:12- # Lacrimosa sky #
0:13:13 > 0:13:16- Lacrimosa is like a day of tears - and reflects mourning.
0:13:17 > 0:13:20- It was Bryn's idea, in fact.
0:13:20 > 0:13:25- # Lacrimosa lullaby #
0:13:26 > 0:13:31- That song puts Latin - and Welsh together.
0:13:35 > 0:13:39- It turns from the mass - to the empty crib...
0:13:39 > 0:13:44- ..the empty bed, - the empty arms and a parent singing.
0:13:44 > 0:13:47- # Parce Deus
0:13:48 > 0:13:53- # Lacrimosa lullaby #
0:13:54 > 0:14:00- As Karl now knows my voice, - the movement stays perfect...
0:14:01 > 0:14:05- ..for the use of voice - and the colour...
0:14:05 > 0:14:08- ..the notes, the key.
0:14:08 > 0:14:11- That is the gift of composers.
0:14:11 > 0:14:17- Writing a movement that will - move you to total sadness...
0:14:17 > 0:14:21- ..or put a smile on your face.
0:14:29 > 0:14:33- What's wonderful about this piece - which is a new commission...
0:14:33 > 0:14:36- ..is that Karl wrote it - with my voice in mind.
0:14:36 > 0:14:39- That makes a world of difference. - It suits my voice.
0:14:39 > 0:14:41- It suits the sound of my voice.
0:14:41 > 0:14:46- Particularly Did I Hear A Bird? - which is high, wonderful and light.
0:14:47 > 0:14:51- # Hear a beating, - beating, beating wing
0:14:51 > 0:14:55- # Hear a bea-bea-bea-bea, - bea-bea-bea-bea-bea-beating wing #
0:14:58 > 0:15:02- The story is that no bird sang - on the morning of the disaster.
0:15:02 > 0:15:06- # Beating my heart
0:15:06 > 0:15:10- # Just a little, little, little bird
0:15:11 > 0:15:17- # That keeps on calling, calling, - calling softly from the crowd #
0:15:17 > 0:15:20- We grab hold of this theme - of the bird.
0:15:21 > 0:15:25- Elin Manahan makes these - incredible sounds with her voice.
0:15:25 > 0:15:28- You imagine hearing the children - and a bird.
0:15:28 > 0:15:32- And then the disappointment - that nobody's there.
0:15:41 > 0:15:44- There's a song based on the - Welsh folk song Y Deryn Du.
0:15:45 > 0:15:47- It's called Satin Feathers.
0:15:47 > 0:15:50- It yearns for music - to come back to the valley.
0:15:50 > 0:15:55- # Bring the music to my valley
0:15:56 > 0:16:03- # Bring it back again, and hurry #
0:16:03 > 0:16:09- You take Y Deryn Du, not as a - messenger of romantic love...
0:16:09 > 0:16:13- ..but a messenger of love - to fetch the children back...
0:16:14 > 0:16:17- ..but they don't return.
0:16:24 > 0:16:28- The two instruments, - the euphonium and the harp...
0:16:29 > 0:16:32- ..are symbolic within Welsh culture.
0:16:33 > 0:16:37- I would say that the euphonium - is quite a strong symbol...
0:16:37 > 0:16:39- ..of the story behind Aberfan.
0:16:46 > 0:16:49- There's a period of revelling - in childhood...
0:16:49 > 0:16:52- ..and remembering - the happy times that had been.
0:16:52 > 0:16:54- # I'm bigger than you
0:16:54 > 0:16:56- # I'm seven years old
0:16:56 > 0:16:57- # That's nothing
0:16:58 > 0:16:59- # I'm seven and a half
0:17:00 > 0:17:04- # I'm stronger than you - - I'm eight years old
0:17:04 > 0:17:08- # That's nothing - - I'm eight and a half
0:17:08 > 0:17:13- # I'm prettier than you - - I'm nine years old
0:17:13 > 0:17:16- # That's nothing - - I'm nine and a half #
0:17:17 > 0:17:22- One of the hardest things - about visiting the graveyard...
0:17:22 > 0:17:26- ..is that some of the ages are noted - as eight and a half on gravestones.
0:17:27 > 0:17:29- # I'm ten and a quarter
0:17:29 > 0:17:33- # That's nothing - - I'm ten and a half #
0:17:33 > 0:17:37- For a child, that "and a half" - is incredibly important.
0:17:37 > 0:17:41- I remember being there myself - and we liked to stretch what we had.
0:17:41 > 0:17:45- # If you're so strong, - go on lift this stone
0:17:45 > 0:17:49- # I can't today, - I've got a bad - bone #
0:17:50 > 0:17:54- That song is a chance - to bring some fun.
0:17:54 > 0:17:58- You can always do - one better than other people!
0:17:58 > 0:18:01- # If you're so pretty, - give Jonny a kiss
0:18:02 > 0:18:03- # But Jonny is ugly
0:18:03 > 0:18:05- # But Jonny is ugly- - # For shame, I'll tell miss
0:18:06 > 0:18:07- # If you're so clever
0:18:07 > 0:18:11- # What's three hundred million - divided by nine over two?
0:18:14 > 0:18:22- # That's easy peasy lemon squeezy, - but I'm not telling you #
0:18:24 > 0:18:26- The parents enjoy listening - to the children.
0:18:27 > 0:18:31- They remember - it was a long time ago, not now.
0:18:32 > 0:18:36- # Ac amser maith yn ol, - ti yn fy nghol
0:18:36 > 0:18:43- # Cyn dyfod y glaw, - cyn gollwng dy law
0:18:47 > 0:18:51- # A chyn yr eiliad heb ddim golau
0:18:51 > 0:18:56- # A chyn y diwedd i bob dechrau
0:18:56 > 0:19:00- # Amser maith yn ol #
0:19:01 > 0:19:06- There's then a duet - between the parents...
0:19:06 > 0:19:11- ..asking how on earth - we'll move on from here.
0:19:11 > 0:19:13- How do we come to terms with this?
0:19:13 > 0:19:18- We have to because there are other - children who are still here.
0:19:18 > 0:19:22- We need courage from somewhere.
0:19:22 > 0:19:27- # How should we weep - when the shadow dies?
0:19:28 > 0:19:33- # Fading, slipping till the sun lies
0:19:33 > 0:19:35- # Asleep? #
0:19:35 > 0:19:38- When The Shadow Dies - was a poem about how we...
0:19:39 > 0:19:43- ..those left behind, - are going to live for the future.
0:19:43 > 0:19:47- It's about a determination - to keep singing this song.
0:19:47 > 0:19:53- A song of hope to combat the - emptiness and sense of loneliness.
0:19:55 > 0:20:05- # Sing it until the end of the night
0:20:06 > 0:20:16- # Sing it, sing it, - for our children loved light
0:20:16 > 0:20:21- # Our children loved light
0:20:23 > 0:20:30- # My child #
0:20:34 > 0:20:36- Hope springs from that light.
0:20:36 > 0:20:41- Sometimes it's a strong hope, - sometimes it's weaker.
0:20:41 > 0:20:48- But it's the knowledge - that there is light somewhere.
0:20:49 > 0:20:59- # Lux aeterna luceat eis
0:21:00 > 0:21:06- # Domine #
0:21:07 > 0:21:10- It finishes with Lux aeterna, - eternal light from the requiem.
0:21:10 > 0:21:13- Then it moves on - to a school assembly hymn...
0:21:14 > 0:21:16- ..If I Were A Beautiful - Twinkling Star.
0:21:16 > 0:21:19- # If I were a beautiful - twinkling star
0:21:19 > 0:21:23- # I'd shine on the darkest night #
0:21:24 > 0:21:27- Nantlais has adapted the hymn - which contains the line...
0:21:27 > 0:21:33- .."I'd find some little cheerless - spot and shine with all my might."
0:21:33 > 0:21:40- There's hope there and it gives - purpose to a child's life.
0:21:40 > 0:21:46- # I'd find a little cheerless spot - and shine with all my might #
0:21:48 > 0:21:51- It's a work - for a particular occasion.
0:21:51 > 0:21:54- It has a universal message - and appeal as well.
0:21:54 > 0:21:59- # Lux aeterna
0:22:00 > 0:22:05- # Quia pius es #
0:22:05 > 0:22:06- That's the emotion.
0:22:07 > 0:22:10- We'll be singing the song - to families...
0:22:10 > 0:22:13- ..who are connected - to losing children and family.
0:22:14 > 0:22:20- # Ser y goleuni, seren dan #
0:22:21 > 0:22:24- I hope people will see - depth, power, hope and light...
0:22:24 > 0:22:27- ..in the Cantata and enjoy it - more than being saddened by it.
0:22:28 > 0:22:34- # Ser y goleuni, seren dan
0:22:35 > 0:22:39- # Goleuni, seren dan #
0:22:40 > 0:22:45- It would be wonderful to think - that the work could bring some...
0:22:45 > 0:22:47- ..comfort possibly...
0:22:47 > 0:22:50- ..when there's turmoil - and when the time is right...
0:22:50 > 0:22:53- ..they can turn to music - like this...
0:22:53 > 0:22:58- ..and feel that they can share - their troubles with someone.
0:22:58 > 0:23:03- You probably can't hope - for much more than that.
0:23:03 > 0:23:08- # Es pius sanctus #
0:23:08 > 0:23:14- Out of the darkness of loss, - we can create something better.
0:23:15 > 0:23:17- The coal board learned - to clear the mines.
0:23:17 > 0:23:20- They wanted to make the work safer.
0:23:20 > 0:23:24- I feel that losing every soul - in Aberfan...
0:23:24 > 0:23:28- ..has given us an opportunity - as a society...
0:23:28 > 0:23:31- ..to make things better - for the children of the future...
0:23:32 > 0:23:35- ..and to make things better - in these valleys.
0:23:35 > 0:23:38- Some light from the darkness.
0:23:38 > 0:23:41- Some hope from the loss.
0:23:56 > 0:23:58- S4C Subtitles by Testun Cyf.
0:23:58 > 0:23:59- .