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

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 both choirs took part in a performance of Karl Jenkins’ Requiem.

In addition to the piano and organ accompaniments, 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, the head chorister of 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 the choral society to bring this exciting and accessible modern work to its close.