The Leone Band A.D. 1863 of the Aurora Opera House, Victoria, Gozo, is celebrating its 150th anniversary this year. To mark this special jubilee it has issued a new collection of funeral marches which the band will perform when it accompanies this year’s Good Friday procession from the Gozo Cathedral within the Citadel fortifications.

The collection is an anthology of funeral marches by the many of the musical directors who have lead the Leone Band over the last 150 years. Called ‘Redemptor Hominis – The Saviour of Man’ after the first encyclical letter of Blessed John Paul II; the Pope with whom the Leone Band had the grace of meeting during an audience, twenty years ago in 1993.

‘Redemptor Hominis’ comes with an information booklet containing biographical and historical notes. It can be purchased from the Leone Band Club or via the band’s official website www.leone.org.mt.

During Eastertide, the Leone Band will be engaged in three services, the first being an evening of music and reflections at the Gozo Cathedral on Monday, the 25th ofMarch at 7.30pm. The new set of funeral marches will help the audience reflect on Jesus Christ’s Last Seven Words poetically illustrated by Rev. George Mercieca.

Entrance at the Gozo Cathedral is free of charge and the general public is kindly invited to be seated 10 minutes before the time of commencement.

The Leone Band will then accompany the Good Friday procession on Good Friday, starting at 6pm. This procession, which, the band said “includes the oldest Passion statues on the Gozitan Island as well as a number of new Biblical characters,” issues from the Gozo Cathedral within the bastion walls and trails round the historic centre of Victoria.

On Easter Sunday morning, the Leone Band will then accompany the parade with the statue of the Risen Christ with a popular band march, starting at 10.30am.

Further information can be obtained from www.leone.org.mt or by email: info@leone.org.mt.

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