March 23rd 2010 edition of the Maltese Herald

by Gozo News · March 23, 2010

This weeks 23rd of March edition of The Maltese Herald Gozo section is now available for download by clicking here.

Previous editions are also available by clicking on this link.

The stories covered in this weeks issue are:

1. A group of students from Year 5 at Rabat Primary Gozo College donating a book to the library on the occasion of the 15th anniversary since its opening on the 10th of March 1995. Also present from left to right are Mr Joseph Zerafa, ex-head of school and founder of the library, Ms Anita Sciberras head of school and Ms Doris Vella complementary teacher and librarian. Around 200 books were donated to the library.

2.The new District Office of the Enemalta Corporation in Xewkija, Gozo, has been inaugurated by the Minister of Finance, the Economy and Investment, Tonio Fenech, in the presence of the Minister for Gozo, Giovanna Debono and the chairman of Enemalta Corporation, Ing. Alex Tranter.

During the inauguration, Minister Fenech explained that this site will also eventually serve as the new site for the Center for 33kV Distribution currently being built.

This will provide the majority of needs for Gozo. Qala will also be kept on the network and this will ensure that the capacity will be strengthened substantially. Tonio Fenech added that security and an adequate supply of energy in Gozo is essential to this island to meet its targets for economic growth and objectives for eco-Gozo.

The work of construction is expected to be completed this year. Enemalta issued a tender for the supply and installation of equipment required in three distrubution centres, including Xewkija, which is being evaluated at present. This will mean a total investment of €5.7 million. The centre of distribution will have a computerised system that allows remote monitoring and control of equipment operation, which is integrated in with the Enemalta system (known as SCADA), which is operated on a 24 hour basis from the Head Office of Enemalta.

The electricity network is currently based in the Gozo Centre of Distribution in Qala, on the east of the island and thus, this investment will improve the capacity of transmission and distribution to the island.

3. The Victoria Venture Unit held a blood donation session at the Gozo General Hospital for scouts and supporters. Manager Angelo Degiorgio said the number of Gozitan blood donors had increased and thanked people for their generosity, urging others to donate blood at least once in their lifetime.

4. A 10 strong selection from the Chorus Urbanus male section gave a truly inspired performance during a recital of Gregorian chant organized by the Kercem Local Council in connection with the second edition of the festival Is-Sagra ta’ San Girgor.

As a prelude to the musical offering of the Notte Gregoriana Mro. Dr John Galea, musical director of Chorus Urbanus, gave a lecture on the history and development of chant and different notations. The musical parts chosen for this concert included pieces from the Proper of the feast of St. Gregory the Great. These pieces from the Graduale Triplex repertoire were performed with proper attention to detail and respect for the aesthetics of plainchant.

The concert opened with the vespertine hymns O Doctor Optime and Amavit Eum Dominus. This was followed by the Introit antiphon Sacerdotes Dei, the Gradual Juravit Dominus, the antiphon for offertory Veritas Mea and communion antiphon Fidelis Servus et Prudens. The audience showed its appreciation for such an unusual concert through merited warm applauses. The corporal language of the choir members reflected self-discipline, calmness and tranquility – essential factors that contribute to the achievement of a complete fusion of voices. Homogeneity of sound is an essential goal of Gregorian chant performance and this was achieved effortlessly through essentially contained singing. The phrasing, in agreement with the text and melody, generated a vibrant performance with lengthened diminuendos that kept in mind the local acoustical properties of the Kercem Parish church. The evening featured also a presentation on the recent discovery of prehistoric tombs in the adjacent parish house and an exhibition on these archaeological findings.