The second edition of the Unum Deum Festival saw the participation of the Chorus Urbanus. The choir was invited to perform choral works by its director, John Galea during the day dedicated to Gozo on Wednesday, 7th June 2006. In its repertore, the Chorus Urbanus sang various polyphonic motets by Lotti and Palestrina but the highlight of this musical offering were those works that are performed exclusively by Chorus Urbanus. These works by our director John Galea included Domine Non Sum Dignus, a motet for chamber choir composed by John Galea. It is a delicate work that was chosen as a test-piece for one of the past editions of the Malta International Choir Festival. Other compositions by our conductor, John Galea included O Salutaris Hostia, released recently on CD on the Savina Creations Label,   the moving Crux Fidelis for soprano solo and SATB choir, which is sung during the Adoration of the Cross during the Good Friday Liturgy and Protege Domine , an invocation for Soprano and Bass solo. The solo parts were sung by Yvonne Galea and Noel Galea, who gave excellent and moving renderings of their respective parts. The programme also included the performance of John Galea’s rich 4-part harmonisations of Giuseppe Caruana’s eponymous hymns Nadurawk and Tina l-hlewwa.

The choir’s potential for a wide spectrum of dynamics was amply evident and  this  could be  most  noted in  the  ‘a niente’  hushed  conclusion  of  O Salutaris Hostia and Domine non sum Dignus. The appreciative audience gave a warm generous applause at the end of the concert. It must be said that the magnificent splendor of St. John’s Co-Cathedral and the backdrop of the Titular Sculpture depicting the Baptism of Christ provided the ideal mystic aura for the a capella repertoire chosen for the event.