Reuben Pace’s new oratorio, Versus, is unlike the traditional oratorio that follows the life of some saint or uses text taken directly from the Bible.
“I was not inspired by any of the age-old stories of saints and the like, but am intrigued about how modern society views its relationship with God,” says Pace.
The text has a unique origin. Pace collected over 800 poems and short writings by primary and secondary schoolchildren done during the PSCD and religion lessons as part of the curriculum. Some of these poems were then chosen and passed on to the Drama Centre where students of the script writing module took these short poems and integrated them into larger works. The children’s writings were also passed on to poets to produce new works inspired or based on them.
Versus consists of seven poems, three of which are actually the original poems submitted by children. Pace felt there was no need to alter them. Two poems are by John Aquilina and Nancy Abela and another is by a student of the drama centre, Mary-Anne Zammit.
For the seventh movement Pace thought it appropriate to set to music the traditional prayer Act of Contrition (Att ta’ L-Indiema). This represents one who is trying to repent after sinning against God or after a period of non-communication with him. The choir will be Estonia’s Collegium Musicale. Solo singers are Nathan Schembri Rogers, Francesca Aquilina, Clare Ghigo, Endrik Üksvärav and Andrew Louis Cassar.
The musical style of Versus varies from folk melodies to contemporary idioms. The text is in Maltese, English and Italian.
The oratorio takes up the first part of the concert, while the second part is dedicated to Estonian composers, including Arvo Pärt, Päart Üusberg, Velo Tormis and Erki Sven Tüur.
A composition competition was also launched with this oratorio and the winning entry will be performed in the second part.
The children’s writings were passed on to students at the School of Art who produced works inspired by and reflecting these poems.
Versus is endorsed by the Department of Education and is part of the Mdina Cathedral Contemporary Art Biennale 2015/2016 which runs between November 13 and January 7.
Versus takes place on November 25 at the Mdina Cathedral at 8pm. Tickets may be obtained from the Inspire Foundation (inspire.org.mt) against a donation of €10. All proceeds will go to Inspire.