LAUNCESTON Choral Society, conducted by Jonathan Mann, and its special guests, St Joseph’s choir ‘Canzonetta’, conducted by retiring musical director, Lis Mann, performed three of contemporary composer Karl Jenkins’ works at their recent concert at Central Methodist Church.

Canzonetta began the concert with a polished performance of Jenkins’ breakthrough work, Adiemus which became instantly well known when it was chosen for a Delta Airlines commercial in the 1990s.

The choral society continued with the suite of five movements from Jenkin’s The Armed Man: A Mass for Peace, featuring four liturgical movements and the powerful Hymn before action with words by Rudyard Kipling, accompanied by Liz Jones on the piano.

For the Requiem the two choirs were accompanied by guest organist Mary Mazur-Park and Liz Jones.

Further instrumental colour was added to the Dies Irae and Rex Tremendae by Julie and Dave Dobson playing tenor horn and tuba respectively.

The society welcomed back soprano soloist, Dawn Felton, and in the Pie Jesu she was joined by treble soloist Alina Nuta from Canzonetta.

As with The Armed Man, Jenkins intersperses foreign texts into the work. Here he sets Japanese haiku for three-part female chorus which were perfectly suited to the voices of Canzonetta.

In the final movement, In Paradisum, all forces joined together, soloists, Canzonetta and choral society to bring this exciting and accessible modern work to its close.

The choral society always has a retiring collection for a charity at the end of its concerts and this time, it chose the little known Ehlers-Danlos Syndrome (EDS) Support Group.

The choir’s youngest member, Diane Smith, who suffers from EDS gave an emotional description of what those affected can experience.

The syndrome affects the collagen which holds our muscles together and can be life limiting.

The audience and choir raised £460.98 which brings the total raised by the society for local and national charities in its financial year since last July to £1,478.39.

Once more a wonderful evening for all who attended.