After the success which the Nativitas Choir of Xaghra acquired during the Solemn Christmas Midnight Mass celebrated at the National Shrine of Our Lady “Ta’ Pinu” at Gharb, the choir is once again invited to take part in several activities during the first month of the year.

The Nativitas Choir belongs to the Victory Philarmonic Band of Xaghra and this year, it is celebrating the tenth anniversary of its foundation. The choir inaugurates its activites during this month while taking part in a Solemn Mass next Friday, 16th January 2009 at the church of Saint Anthony the Abbot in Xaghra. This solemn mass (which is being held at 6.30pm) closes the Triduum in honour of the same saint whose feast is being celebrated during this week, reaching its climax next Sunday. The choir will perform the “Messa Cantate Domino” by Giuseppe Oltrasi.

Also for this occasion, a new hymn to Saint Anthony the Abbot will be performed. Its lyrics are attributed to the Maltese Augustinian Province and the music is left in the hands of the choir’s assistant director, Ivan Attard. This hymn will compliment the existent one, written by the late Mro. Nazzareno Refalo.

Rev. Can. Michael Borg, new Rector of Marsalforn, invited the Nativitas Choir of Xaghra to take part in the Solemn Triduum in honour of Saint Paul, patron saint of Marsalforn between Wednesday 21st and Friday 23rd January. It must be said that this year, the feast of Saint Paul in Marsalforn is being celebrated on a national level since the Catholic Church is commemorating the 2000th anniversary of Saint Paul’s Birth (the Pauline Year). Preparations are being held for these three consecutive masses in Marsalforn. The Nativitas Choir is expected to execute the “Messa Cantate Domino” by Giuseppe Oltrasi and “Messa De Angelis” (Gregorian Chant).

For this occasion, the choir will also perform three Pauline hymns namely, the Pauline Year’s hymn “Intom li rxuxtajtu ma’ Kristu”, “Innu lil San Pawl” (lyrics by Frans Camilleri and music by Joseph Abela Scolaro – written for the Pauline centenary celebrated in 1960) and “Innu lil San Pawl” (lyrics by Frans Camilleri and music by Guze Micallef). During this Triduum, the choir will also perform during the Solemn Vespers which begin at 5.30pm – the psalms will be sung using Gregorian plain chant. The responsorial psalms and Alleluia ‘versetti’ will be sung too, written by Assistant Director Ivan Attard. For the Sacramental Benediction which closes each day of the Triduum, the choir will perform (among other hymns) the Eucharistic hymn “Nirien ta’ Imhabba” by Salvatore Caruana, “Tantum Ergo” by Giuseppe Caruana and “Laudate Dominum” by Taizé.

For all these occasions, the choir Nativitas (belonging to the Victory Philarmonic Band of Xaghra) will be under the direction of Mrs. Silvana Agius and Assistant Director and choir organist Ivan Attard. The choir is looking forward for these activities and for other celebrations commemorating the tenth anniversary of its foundation.

Photo courtesy of Lawrence Camilleri.

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