St George's hymn-cantata (1)

Among the various contributions about this hymn-cantata (The Sunday Times, October 22) in response to Mro John Galea's feature (October 1), I read with utmost interest the letter by Fr George Mercieca where he deliberately failed to mention Mgr Giuseppe Farrugia.

This distinguished Gozitan composer, popularly known as Tal-Vers, composed the hymn-cantata Su Garzoni all'invitto Campione way back in 1894 and an Inno a S. Giorgio Martire "Spento Il Drago", composed in 1901. These were the indisputable precursors of a soon widely diffused practice of writing hymn-cantatas in honour of Gozo's titular saints.

The 1894 cantata was performed by the La Stella Band to welcome the new statue of St George slaying the dragon made by the Maltese artist Vincenzo Cremona, the first titular statue of its kind for the external festivities in Gozo. The other hymn was written in 1901 for band and choir and performed on the eve of St George's feast.

The St George's hymn-cantata, composed and written by Mro G. Giardini Vella, was performed by the La Stella Band to substitute these previous hymn-cantatas that he failed to mention. The Inno A San Giorgio Martire was performed for the first time in 1931 at Misrah it-Tokk on the eve of the celebrations of St George's feast. In 1934 it was performed for the first time on St George's Square at the beginning of the pontifical procession with the statue of St George, carved in wood by Pietru Pawl Azzopardi, the first titular statue of its kind in Gozo.

The singing of this cantata created a sensation and was much appreciated by the public, especially by Archpriest Mgr Alphonse M. Hili who had worked hard to see this happen. Moreover it sparked a new wave of similar compositions of cantatas to be performed in Gozitan festas just like what the Rabtin did in honour of their patron saint.