Having skipped this year’s edition of ‘Carols by Candlelight’, the choir’s followers were eagerly waiting for this Christmas Concert.
‘Carolling Christmas’ was held at San Lawrenz Parish Church and started at 7.30pm. The church was jam-packed with people coming from all over Gozo and Malta. There were also some foreign residents who like others follow SCJ and attend for all its concerts.
The Parish Church of San Lawrenz was chosen due to the fact that earlier this year, in August, the Parish awarded the choir with the Golden Palm. Schola Cantorum Jubilate wanted to show its gratitute to the only Gozitan parish which acknowledged the choir’s commitment and dedication in the musical sector.
The Christmastide concert started with the BrassTubes interpreting various popular carols instrumentally. These were: ‘Ding Dong Merrily on High’, ‘Hark! The Herald Angels sing’ and ‘The First Nowell’. This ensemble accompanied also Bass Albert Buttigieg who interpreted Gruber’s ‘Silent Night’.
The other solos of the night included ‘O Holy Night’ and ‘Ave Maria’ (Atkinson) which were interpreted by Marouska Attard who was accompanied on the organ by Joseph Camilleri. Organist Camilleri performed also a ‘Pastorale’ by A. C Bossi. It included two movements: (i) ‘Nenia’ (ii) ‘I Pastori Davanti alla Campana’.
The choral part included ‘Carol of the Bells’, ‘Ninni la tibkix iżjed’ and ‘Away in a manger’. The latter included a verse sang by treble Bernadine Attard. These three carols were sung a cappella. Then organist Joseph Camilleri accompanied the choir during Rutter’s ‘Christmas Lullaby’. This part was under the direction of Marouska Attard.
The other pieces: ‘O Little Town of Bethlehem’, ‘God rest you merry gentlemen’ and ‘Joy to the World’ were interpretd by the choir and the BrassTubes Ensemble under the direction of Mark Gauci. At the end of the concert, the congregation was invited to stand up and sing together with the choir ‘O Come all ye faithful’.
The soirée included also the recital of Milton’s ‘On the morning of Christ’s Nativity’ by Stanley J. Portelli and a message of the Parish Priest Fr. Ignazio Borg. The compere of the evening was Mr. Noel Formosa.
It was surely another remarkable experience for both the choristers and attendees. The Christmas spirit was awakened by the singing and the messages ‘of hope and glad tidings’ which were highlighted during the evening.
