Musico-literary evening marks Dominican Province anniversary

A musico-literary evening was recently held at Jesus of Nazareth parish church in Sliema to commemorate 175 years of the foundation of the Maltese Dominicans as a Province.

The evening of sacred music by the Jesus of Nazareth choir and orchestra, under the baton of Fr Salv Galea, OP, started with a composition by P.P. Pacini, OFM – Sul flutto dei secoli, followed by a short welcoming speech by Fr Provincial Paul Gatt, OP.

An antiphon composed by Fr Galea, OP, – Omaggio al santo padre Domenico, and another antiphon, Pie Pater, by Carmelo Pace, were then played by the orchestra, with the participation of soprano Jeanne Farrugia.

After this musical interlude, Fr Lawrence Attard, OP, gave a detailed history of the Dominican Order from its early establishment by the founder St Dominic, leading to its establishment in Malta in 1838, up to the current year.

The orchestra then played Riccardo Bugeja’s very evocative composition Dixit Dominus, with the participation of tenors Andrew Sapiano and Charles Vincenti and bass Albert Buttigieg.

A rarely heard Gloria from the Missa in Nativitate Virginis Mariae, composed in 1938 by Licinio Refice, was then sung by the choir.

Present for the evening was Archbishop Emeritus Joseph Mercieca, who gave a short closing speech wherein he urged the audience present to cherish Malta’s Catholic traditions.

The traditional antiphon Pie Pater, by Vincenzo Bugeja, brought the evening to a close.

Fr Galea has been directing the Jesus of Nazareth choir and orchestra for the past 53 years.