A Baroque oratorio, Dietrich Buxtehude’s Membra Jesu Nostri patientis sanctissima, The Most Holy Limbs of Our Suffering Jesus, was presented at the Mdina Metropolitan Cathedral on the 1st April, 2022.
Mro. Riccardo Bianchi led Kor Malta, the Malta National Choir, and the Valletta International Baroque Ensemble throughout this concert, whilst 7 artists from the Malta School of Art created works of art in synchronization to the music. The piece is a contemplation of the seven parts of Christ’s crucified body – his pierced feet, bent knees, bleeding hands, wounded side, revered breast, loving heart, and thorn-crowned face.
The audience could watch the artists at work and finally contemplate on the finished art works with the music as an enveloping medium.
The creations featuring the 7 wounds were interpreted in different media, techniques and expressions by Raymond Borg, Vince Cassar, Emily Farrugia, Pietru Farrugia, Guo Ming An, Jonathan Mohnani and Vlada Pogosova.
Combining vivid texts with intensely expressive music gave rise to a personal act of piety where pain was felt through sounds, moments of total peace and abandonment whereas intervals expressed deep mystical meanings such as enlightenment and spiritual elevation to God.
This event was held in collaboration with Spazju Kreattiv.
The Mikiel Anton Vassalli College is the national network of specialised schools for Visual and Performing Arts Education in Malta and Gozo.
Malta Office of the College Principal
32, Joseph Abela Scholaro Street,
Hamrun HMR 1304, Malta
Gozo Office of the College Principal,
Mikiel Anton Vassalli College, Industrial Zone,
Jean De La Valette Street,
Xewkija, XWK 3000, Gozo
+356 2598 3710
mavassalli.college@ilearn.edu.mt
