Maltese composers celebrated in new APS publication

The first ever book about Maltese music written in English has officially hit the shelves. Titled The Great Maltese Composers: Historical Context, Lives and Works, the book is written by Joseph Vella Bondin, sponsored by APS Bank Ltd and published by Midsea Books Ltd.

The book chronologically revisits the lives of Maltese composers who have played an important role in the history of Maltese music and gives an account of successive periods, including the earliest phases of liturgical music, the musical legacy of the Knights of St John, music in the 18th century as well as that of French composers who lived in Malta. The book was officially launched on 14 July at Le Meridien Hotel, St Julian’s to a distinguished audience which included internationally renowned book critic Professor Gerard Hyland who, in his critique, deemed the book to be “authoritative and will surely stand for many years as the definitive account of the great Maltese composers and their music – an account that is difficult to imagine could ever be surpassed”.

“This work is valid not only in the sense that it fills a literary gap for books about Maltese music written in English, but also because it is written for a general readership. We are proud to be sponsoring such a work and to be contributing to the enrichment of Malta’s musical patrimony,” said APS Bank, chairman, Mr E. P. Delia about the bank’s latest cultural initiative.

Author Joe Vella Bondin taking questions from the audience during the launch of his book, ‘The Great Maltese Composers’