Derived from the Italian word tenebre meaning darkness, ‘It-Tniebri’ is a traditional liturgical function that was carried out during Wednesday of the Holy Week which represented the darkness the whole world entered into following the Death of Jesus Christ. This function was removed from the Church’s liturgy after Vatican Council II.

‘It-Tniebri’ for Holy Week on Gozo, took place at the Cittadella on Tuesday evening, the event gave the opportunity for everyone to experience Gozo’s past traditions and taste local related gastronomy during this special time of the year, organised by the Gozo Culture & Information Office.The soloists of Chorus Urbanus were invited to perform a number of sacred pieces as part of the reenactment of this traditional function at St Joseph’s Chapel on the Cittadella, during which the focus of attention is a triangular-shaped candle holder with 15 candles.

As the choristers were chanting Gregorio Allegri’s Miserere, the all the candles but the top middle one, were solemnly extinguished one by one. When only one candle was left, symbolising Jesus Christ as the Light of the World, the audience, who had been given pebbles by the organisers, started to rattle them, this cacophony of noises symbolises the earthquake that is reported in the Gospel to have followed Jesus Christ’s death.

Chorus Urbanus performed also Vexilla Regis, Il-Pjagi ta’Gesu’, Stabat Mater, In Monte Oliveti and Dr John Galea’s Crux Fidelis with the participation of soloist Yvonne Galea. The choir ended their performance with Bruckner’s Christus factus Est.

After the function the choir accompanied a reenactment of a penitential procession with the chants of Miserere along the narrow streets of the Cittadella.

At the conclusion of the event all those present were treated with traditional food and sweets and a cup of freshly brewed traditional coffee.

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