This short original choral work forms part of a contemporary theatrical oratorio conceived as the opening ritual of the Malta Biennale 2026, reimagining the six days of Creation through present-day concerns such as environmental fragility, sustainability, and the tension between growth and extraction. Day Three – Ground and Growth, reflects on when dry land appears and vegetation begins to grow, focusing on ideas of grounding, roots, emergence, and the quiet stillness from which growth unfolds. The music for this piece was composed by Euchar Gravina and the event was concieved under the artistic direction of Sean Buhagiar.
Kor Malta & The Malta Philarmonic Orchestra
Mill-ilmijiet sal-inxufija
Qabel il-bniedem / Meta kollox kien ħiemed
Qabel ma l-bniedem / Ġie biddel fi rwiefen
Il-baħar mistrieħ / Iwennes xtajtiet
U l-art bdiet tkattar / U tnibbet u twarrad
Bil-baħar fuq naħa / L-inxif jixref medda
U l-art, l-ilmijiet / Hekk għexu flimkien
Nafuha ’l din l-art / Kif darba kienet
Nafuha ferm iżjed / Għal dak l’hi llum
Jekk fjura tistejqer / Af ma nagħrfuhiex
Jekk mewġa titkennen / Ma mmelsuhiex
Meta l-baħar jirvilla / Jibla’ art f’kolp
Il-qerda tinxtered / Minn art għal art
Inħarsu lejn sema / Għeri mill-kwiekeb
Iħares dritt lejna / Kurjuż li nqasnieh
Mistagħġeb li anke / Il-kwiekeb ħadnielu
Ħalliela tad-dalma / Sibbiena tas-skiet
Ejj’nibnu torri / Rasu tilħaq sema
U l-baħar bħal ħrafa tal-bieraħ / Imut
Tmut kull żerriegħa / U ebda mkien
Ma jewtiha / Sa ma l-art tistrieħ minna
L-aħħar nifs jistriħilna / Ix-xejn isir hu
Leanne Ellul
Antonella Axisa