The Chorus Urbanus celebrated its thirtieth anniversary since its inception as the first choir at St. George’s Basilica on Christmas Eve 1975 through a programme of activities during 2005, designed to highlight this important milestone. One of these activities was a Thanksgiving Mass at St. George’s Basilica for which, permission was granted by Archpriest Joseph Farrugia after a written request was presented by our musical director on behalf of the Committee. This thanksgiving mass was presided by H.L. Nicholas J. Cauchi, Bishop of Gozo, on the invitation of the Choir and the approval of this invitation by the Archpriest, Mons . Joseph Farrugia.  Rev. Joseph Gauci, the choir’s founder, the Collegiate Chapter of the Basilica and other members of the Presbyterium also participated in the service. It so happened that this service in which the Chorus Urbanus was the main protagonist was the choir’s  farewell to Bishop Cauchi as he ends his pastoral mission as head of the Gozo Diocese in the coming weeks.

On the suggestion of Archpriest Farrugia, the Pontifical Mass was scheduled for 27^th December, Lateran feast of St. John Evangelist. The Chorus Urbanus, under the direction of Mro. John Galea performed the Missa Brevis by Abbe` Boyer and other Christmas carols proper to the season. The choir’s committee officials took an important part in the articulation of this celebration. George Borg, (secretary) and Architect Edward Scerri (president) read the scripture lessons while Noel Galea sang the responsorial chant.  Ms. Pauline Bezzina, a senior member of the choir recited the intercessions of the faithful written specifically for this occasion by the Archpriest. These included prayers for the departed souls of six choir members, dearly remembered during our prayers, namely, Joseph Bezzina, George Portelli, Victor Camilleri, Roger Mauviard, Joe Tabone, and Ann-Marie Rapa. The offerings were carried and presented by Ms. Angelica Portelli and Master Andrea Formosa, both members of the Junior Section and Mrs. Antoinette Borg and Mr. Joseph Buhagiar, senior members of Chorus Urbanus. The other senior member, soprano Yvonne Galea gave a moving rendition of ‘Silent Night’ during the offertory.

The solemnity of the liturgical observance of the feast of St. John Evangelist provided the right dose of pomp to fit this celebratory event. This was all the more so since,  in line with the liturgical calendar observed at St. John’s Lateran Basilica with whom St. George’s Basilica has special ties, the event offered a fitting commemoration of the inauguration of the Chorus Urbanus as the Basilica’s principal choir, way back in 1975, once the Basilica had then achieved such a status.

The liturgical observance of this feast provided the starting point for Bishop Cauchi’s homily. H.L. dwelt on the importance of liturgical music, Gregorian chant and the great polyphonic tradition and acknowledged the great contribution given by the Chorus Urbanus in this regard. A similar acknowledgement was given by the Archpriest in the short speech that followed Architect Edward Scerri’s address at the end of the celebration. Our president’s speech, clear and punctual, is being reproduced here:

"L-okkazzjoni tal-lum hija wahda ta’ ferh ghaliex kien proprju bhal daz-zmien tletin sena ilu, ezattament fil-lejl tal-Milied ta’ l-1975 li Dun Guzepp Gauci niehda dan il-vjagg muzikali tal-Chorus Urbanus.  Kien ghalhekk li l-kumitat tal-kor haseb li jkun xieraq li jikteb lill-Arcipriet sabiex issir din il-quddiesa ta’ radd il-hajr lil Alla proprju fil-post fejn twieled il-kor.

Kien jixraq ukoll li din il-quddiesa titmexxa mill-Ecc. Tieghu l-Isqof Cauchi li wasal qrib it-tmiem tal-mandat pastorali tieghu u ghalhekk f’isem il-kor jiena pubblikament nghidlu “grazzi” tal-hajja li offrejt lil Alla sabiex isservi lil hutek il-bnedmin fil-mixja spiritwali taghhom.

Il-Chorus Urbanus qatt ma hares lura minn meta twaqqaf – anzi, dawwar id-diffikultajiet li ltaqa` maghhom f’okkazzjoni biex jevolvi u javanza `l quddiem.  Dan kien possibbli ghaliex il-kor dejjem ghex bhala familja estiza u solidali fi hdan Alla l-Gust.  Ta’ dan jiena nirringrazzja lil Mro John Galea li kien il-missier muzikali tal-kor ghal dawn l-ahhar 25 sena. Dak li beda Dun Guzepp Gauci, u kompla Joseph Bezzina, John ikkonsolidah b’mod li l-Chorus Urbanus illum igawdi r-reputazzjoni muzikali li ghandu nternazzjonalment.  Nirringrazzja wkoll lil dawk il-membri li jafu l-bidu tal-kor u li ghadhom hemm sal-lum – George, Yvonne, Guzeppi u Antonietta. 

Ghalhekk minn qalbi llum ippermettuli ntenni lill-Chorus Urbanus “Ad Multos Annos”.

After these speeches various gifts were presented by Chorus Urbanus. These included a luxury full colour publication The Great Pope John Paul II presented to H.L. Nicholas Cauchi. The President Edward Scerri then presented CD copies of the oratorio Il-Qalb ta’ Kristu, composed by our musical director John Galea to lyrics by Bishop Cauchi; to Fr. Joseph Gauci, the choir’s founder and the Archpriest of the Basilica, Mons. Joseph Farrugia.  This CD was recorded in Sofia, Bulgaria during March 2005. The archpriest presented our president with a dedicated copy of the Basilica’s publication: San Gorg, an encylopaedic volume on St. George, the Great Martyr, whom the choir carries proudly in its official logo. 

It was then the time to ask Mr. and Mrs. George Borg, Mrs. Yvonne Galea and Mr. Joseph Buhagiar to come forward to be presented with a memento of the occasion. These four members have formed part of Chorus Urbanus ever since its inauguration thirty years ago and have unfailingly offered their services as dedicated choristers. The members were presented with a silver icon of St. George, while the Secretary was presented with silver secretarial tools. Finally, Architect Scerri acknowledged the sterling service given to the choir by Mro. John Galea who has been at the musical helm of Chorus Urbanus for these last twenty five years. It was under his disciplined direction that the choir made great leaps forward in quality that assured its participation in various national and international commitments. 

After the celebration the choir and participants was treated to a reception kindly hosted by the Archpriest.