Christmas brings with it many activities: fund-raising activities, dinners, parties, traditional food, decorations but above all, it brings music. Music is heard everywhere or we may say – is the common element in all places decorated for this festive season. It is in the streets, houses, shops, churches…
The Xaghra Local Council is keen to contribute to the Christmas events in its locality. On Thursday 28 December, it is presenting a Christmastide Concert – Gloria in Cielo – at the Basilica of Marija Bambina in Xaghra, Gozo. This concert is being held under the patronage of President Edward Fenech Adami.
During the soirée, a collection will be held in aid of the Community Chest Fund Malta. The council is grateful for the invaluable support of the Xaghra Archpriest Mons. Carmelo Refalo and his Collegiate Chapter and also the Cultural Committee within the Gozo Ministry. Financial sponsorship for the concert is generously provided by many Gozitan and Maltese businesses and individuals and by government entities.
This musical event has reached its eighth edition and had seen various choirs come together for this Christmas concert.
For this year’s edition, the Xaghra Local Council invited the Schola Cantorum Jubilate of Xaghra to perform, on its own, a selection of popular and traditional Christmas carols. Many by now have heard of Schola Cantorum Jubilate, the independent youth choir which specialises in the sacred polyphony. Recently they have been featured in all the local newspapers regarding their annual event of Carols by Candlelight which was held for the fourth consecutive year on Saturday 9 December 2006.
The repertoire includes various carols – some popular, others not so much. They will be interpreting certain carols a cappella and during others, they will be accompanied by the Jubilate Chamber Orchestra which is made up of professional young Gozitan musicians. The choir and orchestra will be under the baton of Marouska Attard. The evening includes some solo instrumental pieces and other vocal solos by the Soprano, Director and violinist Marouska Attard. The well known Joe Caruana will be interpreting organ pieces as well. Ms Attard has graduated this year with B.A. Hons in Music and the schola’s success is due to her constant technical training.
The concert is being held in the Basilica of Marija Bambina of Xaghra, Gozo which will certainly be a pleasant backdrop for the choir but above all, a perfect place for the acoustics. Everyone is invited for this concert and entrance is free of charge. Since the concert starts at 7.30pm, those attending are kindly asked to be in the church by 7.15pm. For more information, one can visit the websites: www.xaghra.com or www.scjchoir.com.