Recordings

Internation Pauline Year Hymn

On Saturday 28th June 2008, Pope Benedict XVI officially opened the Pauline Year (28 June 2008 – 29 June 2009) in occasion of the 2000th anniversary of St. Paul 's birth. During a press conference in January 21st, Cardinal Andrea Cordero Lanza di Montezemolo who is also Archpriest of the Basilica of St. Paul Outside the Walls launched the new hymn ‘Se sieti risorti con Cristo' for the Pauline Year. This hymn was composed by the Prior Johannes Paul Abrahamowicz of the Abbey of St. Paul Outside the Walls. Fr. Abrahamowicz composed the music to selected text from St. Paul 's letters written to the Romans and Colossians. The hymn is written in three voices and can be accompanied by any instrument mainly the organ.

This hymn is being translated in various languages to make Paul known to all, Catholics and not. The apostle to the Gentiles is still recognized as the greatest communicator of the word of God through his letters. Moreover, Pope Benedict XVI himself insisted that this year should focus on the aspect of ecumenism.

Schola Cantorum Jubilate was assigned to take care of the Maltese version of this hymn. Fr. Joseph Sultana, the Schola's Spiritual Director, translated the text, always keeping in mind the original letters of St. Paul . Mro. Paul Portelli was responsible of setting the (Maltese) text to music. The Choir recorded the Maltese version at the PRO Studios of Sannat, Gozo in July. It is sung by the female section (SSA) of the choir.

Download the Hymn by clicking here

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Jubilate

Jubilate", rejoice, and that is what the Schola Cantorum Jubilate invites its audiences to do. Rejoice by means of singing and it was indeed fortuitous that this choir was founded five years ago during the Jubilee Year proclaimed by the Pope for the year 2000. Schola Cantorum Jubilate continues rejoicing by marking the fifth anniversary of its founding by means of a CD which is testimony to the commitment this dedicated team of young enthusiasts put into their mission. To rejoice together in music and to project that joy to whoever stops and listens.

The selection of works spans a very wide spectrum of styles and stretches from the Renaissance composer Josquin des Prez and the thankfully inevitable Palestrina to Bruckner and Perosi. It also includes unusual rarities like a piece composed by a king of Portugal whose 16-year reign was one of a constant struggle for independence with his next door neighbor, Spain.

The works on this CD have been recorded according to the chronological order of composition. There are some solo pieces like Caccini's Ave Maria with soprano Marouska Attard and Claire Massa at the organ, Vivaldi's Nulla in Mundo Pax Sincera featuring soprano Georgina Gauci, who is accompanied by Stephen Attard. He is also at the organ in the other accompanied pieces.

The choir does not only provide admirable stylistic versatility but also offers works associated with different liturgical functions such as those associated with Holy Week, Easter-tide and Christmas. It is thus an album, which is truly one for all seasons.

Ave Vera Virginitas		Des Prez
O Bone Jesu		Palestrina
Sicut Cervus		Palestrina
O Domine Jesu Christe		Palestrina
Adoramus Te		Palestrina
Ave Maria		Victoria
Ave Maria		Caccini
Cantate Domino		Croce
En Natus Est Emmanuel		Praetorius
Crux Fidelis		John IV
Miserere Mei		Lotti
Regina Coeli		Lotti
Nulla in Mundo Pax Sincera		Vivaldi
Largo		Handel
Locus Iste		Bruckner
O Sacrum Convivium		Perosi

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In a Manger

Schola Cantorum Jubilate Choir and Chamber Orchestra launched their first Cd 'In a Manger' in the year 2001. The choir worked hard to prepare for the recordings of this Cd from months before. The choristers went through many sacrifices and returned home late on cold nights and had to wake up early for school the following day. Same goes for the musicians who did their utmost to perform their ability. The Cd was released on Sunday 9th December 2001 and includes 18 tracks, one of which is instrumental. The carols include popular, traditional and old Christmas Carols, all performed in SATB. The Cds were sold from Radio Bambina Studios in Xaghra and from all the musical outlets in Malta and Gozo. This production would not have been possible without the help of certain individuals. This was also the first time when the Jubilate Chamber Orchestra joined the choir. Actually, the album 'In a Manger' is sold out.