The all-male voice choir Cappella Sanctae Catharinae is performing in Gaudete, a vocal Christmas concert being held in Birkirkara and Valletta this weekend.
The programme includes works by William Byrd, Cristobal de Morales, Juan Garcia de Zespedes, Fray Geronimo Gonzales, Juana Ines de la Cruz, St Alfonso Maria de Liguori, John F. Wade and traditional music from Sicily, Hungary, Spain, Malta and France.
The repertoire features some of the earliest known Christmas music from the Piae Cantiones up to more recent carols from across the European continent, including local favourites such as Ninni La Tibkix Iżjed. The music, which will include plainchant, chorales and carols, has been specifically chosen to complement short passages taken from the Nativity story. This will be read by Alfred Mallia, Monica Attard and Carmen Cassar. One of the Maltese carols on the programme has been retrieved from Ġużeppi Zammit from Birkirkara who used to sing it as a child in church and Museum choirs.
Formed in 2009 as a chamber choir specialising in Renaissance polyphony, the Cappella Sanctae Catharinae started off as a performance project tied to a concert series held regularly at the church of St Catherine of Italy in Valletta. Following positive critical acclaim, the original members decided to make the choir a permanent group and as Malta’s only male chamber choir, they have gone on to become a regular feature of the local music scene.
They have performed in various venues across Malta and, as much as possible, try to utilise the multitude of churches around the island to not only reach the community better but to also give a sense of the effect of the music’s original setting.
■ The first concert is taking place tomorrow at 7.30pm at the Collegiate parish church of St Helen’s in Birkirkara. Entrance is free but donations in aid of the restoration of the 18th-century pulpit will be collected. The second concert is taking place on Sunday at 11am at Our Lady of Victory church in Valletta. Entrance is free, with donations to Din l-Art Ħelwa for the restoration of the church appreciated. Doors to this event open at 10.30am for patrons to choose their unmarked seat. For more information, e-mail cappellamalta@gmail.com.