Musical Archives

Faithful to the old Latin maxim qui cantat bis orat (the person who sings is praying twice) the Mdina Cathedral endeavoured to enrich its liturgical celebrations with music of the highest quality. At first the Cathedral Chapter imported qualified directors from Sicily, but later sponsored promising Maltese candidates to study in the conservatories of Sicily and Naples, and to employ them to direct the cappella musicale of the Cathedral, performing their own compositions. In this way a musical archive of the highest quality was built up and conserved in the Church’s lower sacristy. This collection which survived the earthquake of 1693 contains many unique printed and manuscript scores as well as the scores of the earliest known Maltese composers.

As from January 1968 the musical archives were opened for public research in the newly restored palace of the Old Seminary in Mdina, with a small selection of scores displayed in a showcase. This gesture was so much appreciated that a number of persons who had family ownership of collections of musical archives in their families were all too happy to donate them to the Cathedral archives, convinced that these would in future be properly conserved and studied. This was the case of one living composer and music director, Mro Paul Nani, as well as the relatives

of various deceased composers and directors who had inherited their collections. These collections included not only the works composed by their ancestors, but also works by other composers which they or their ancestors had also collected. Some collections included works by a large number of local or foreign composers.

In their present state the musical archives of the Mdina Cathedral include 27 different collections, with a general hand-list of each single score furnishing details of the composer, title, date of composition and other relevant information. This hand-list covers no less than 5251 entries. There are also additional hand-lists as well as detailed index cards of each score.

Enlisted hereunder are the various sections of the archives, showing how the music collection of the Cathedral Chapter’s archives was gradually set up and enriched, especially during the last 50 years. Also given are basic details of each donation. These basic details do not include the names of the composers referred to in that particular donation as the list may contain too many names. Moreover the works of some important composers are included with works in various donations.

The Choral Books, 12th – 13th century

Recovered from the Cathedral sacristies is a collection of manuscript choral books for liturgical use with music notations. The earliest two are written in a medieval Aquitanian notation. These are the earliest music manuscripts known to exist in Malta.

Aquitanian Notation Choral Books

Bishop Martino Royas comissioned 6 illumenated parchment Gradual coral books to Fra Salvatore Ferrarius who composed them in Pozzuoli in 1573. The text is in gothic script and their commissioning was linked the the Catholic Church Council of Trent reforms. There are similar large Graduals at the church of the Order of St John commissioned by Malta’s first Grand Master L’Isle Adam

The 16th Century Royals Graduali

Printed Works by Italian Composers, 1568-1798

A collection of 160 rare works printed in Italy with one in France, containing both religious and 20 secular works. Several of these works are unique. Two publications fully document this collection.

An Earliest copy of Andrea Rinaldi’s printed music.
He was Maestro di Cappella of the Cathedral of Syracuse.

Catalogue Cards, Printed works, 1 – 160

Catalogue 1

This section of our musical archives is particularly rich in motets, vespers and masses. It also includes 24 secular pieces. Among the most important composers represented are Vincezo Tozzi, Vincenzo Amato, Giacomo Carissimi and Monteverdi. Furthermore, in this catalogue one can find various anthologies by an unknown compiler and unattributed scores consisting of motets, secular cantatas and secular dialogues.

Monteverdi, Ecce Panis Angelorum, Mus. Ms.47

Catalogue Cards nos. 1, 1 – 158

Catalogue 2

This catalogue consists of music composed by Maltese composers. From the 17th century.
The earliest music manuscripts found in Malta are the 3 signed manuscripts composed by Giuseppe and Domenico Balzano.  Furthermore, a collection of 91 manuscript works of sacred music which Don Benigno Zerafa – maestro di cappella of the Cathedral for many years – composed, mostly performed and finally donated to the church and a collection of 250 works composed by Francesco Azzopardi, a famous successor of Benigno Zerafa. The Church purchased these scores from the composer’s sister soon after his death. In these 2 collections different texture of music is found such as opera, oratorio, requiem mass and other sacred and secular compositions.

Benigno Zerfa‘s Posui Adiutorium
composed for the installation of
Grand Master De Rohan in
1776, Mus. Ms. 325

Francesco Azzopardi‘s instrumental Sinfonia composed for a reduced
chamber orchestra, dated 1797,
Mus. Ms. 337

Catalogue Cards nos. 2, 240 – 584

This year, the Metropolitan Chapter and the Cathedral Archives proudly commemorate the 300th anniversary of the birth of Don Benigno Zerafa, one of Malta’s most distinguished Baroque composers. As part of this celebration, a dedicated website has been launched to showcase Don Benigno Zerafa’s life and musical legacy, promote commemorative events, provide educational resources, and encourage members of the public to support the initiative by becoming volunteers. This project has been made possible through funding from the Voluntary Organisations Project Scheme (VOPS), managed by the Malta Council for the Voluntary Sector and supported by the Ministry for Inclusion and the Voluntary Sector (MIV).

Website: https://benignozerafa.metropolitanchapter.com/

Catalogue 3

The first part of this catalogue holds scores by Maltese composers namely chapel masters Bugeja Pietro Paolo, Bugeja Vincenzo and Dr Vella Giuseppe and other organists and singers who wished to dedicate a work to the Cathedral Chapter and have it archived in the Cathedral’s collection. Other collections are listed below,

Il Lamente – Romanza – Dr Giuseppe Vella, 1853
performed in Teatru Reale, Valletta. Mus. Ms. 959

The Nani Collection

Includes sacred and secular scores by 6 composers of the Nani family namley Emanuele, Agostino, Vincenzo, Dr Paolo, Anton, Paul. These scores were donated by the late Mro Paul Nani in 3 installments, 2 of which are found in this catalogue.  In 1984 the donation was finalised by a public deed in acts of notary Anthony Attard. A full catalogue of the Nani composers has been published by Franco Bruni and others in 2007 and was recently made available online.

The Aurelio Camilleri Collection

A group of various Maltese compositions donated by Mr. Charles Camilleri a close relative of the composer Francesco Azzopardi. Camilleri lived in Rabat and he found works by Azopardi, Bugeja, Mifsud, Monreal and Pepi in the basement of his house.

The Alberto Vella Collection

Mr Anthony Vella, son of Alberto, donated a large collection of scores by the Vella Composers, Dr Giuseppe, Alberto, Paul and Luigi. This collection continues in the next catalogue

Transcribed Italian Music, Ms 684 – 685.

Maltese composers edited and transcribed popular Italian music, to be performed at the theatre. In this catalogue we find music by Paganini and Rossini.

Musical Treatises, Mus Ms 746 – 753

Grammar and copy books of several Maltese composers who studied in Naples. In addition, there are also books of Contumaci and Monopoli. These named copy books covers the basic music theory knowledge up to very specific textures of music and are found in various catalogues

• Anonymus (2 different copies)
• Bugeja Pietro Paolo
• Contumaci
• Galea Emmanuele
• Giorgio
• Vella Luigi
• Monopoli

Catalogue Cards nos. 3, 585 – 1050

Catalgoue 4

The continuation of The Alberto Vella Collection which showcases the works of Dr Giuseppe, Alberto, Paul and Luigi Vella.

The Vella Luigi Collection 
Part of the works written by Luigi Vella and other composers, together with a number of files with press cutting and information on musical activity in Vella’s times, were donated by Mrs Edwige Camilleri, a relative of Vella.

Inno Pattriottico Maltese, Luigi Vella, 1922
Orchestral hymn, with instruction to perform the traditional
English tune “God Save the King” right afterwords due to Malta being under the British Coloney.
Mus. Ms. 1455

Musical Treatises, Mus. Ms. 1463 – 1465

• Burlo Don Giuseppe
• Nani Antonio

Catalogue Cards nos. 4, 1051 – 1465

Catalogue 5

This catalogue features works from other collections presented earlier such the last instalment of the Nani Collection and other works form the Luigi Vella collection.

Inno Trionfale – Luizia Camilleri,
The earliest known work of a female composer in the archives.
Mus. Ms. 1631

The Mro Francesco Sammut Collection
A small collection of scores by various Maltese composers was donated by the director of music in various churches on secondary feast days. This collection features works by Azzopardi Francesco, Bugeja family, Bartoli Emanule, Borg Don Paolo, Nani Paolo, Grech Gandolini Luigi and other anonymous composers.

Catalogue Cards nos. 5, 1466 – 1832

Catalogue 6

The Nani collection continues through this catalogue as well. It is noted that  anonymus manuscripts might actually belong to the Nani Collection as similar works are found within it.

I Cavalieri Di Malta – Nani Antonio
An opera with the plot focusing on important historical event in Malta, dated 1877.
Mus. Ms. 1839

The Caruana Colleciton

Miss Bice Caruana, daughter of the well known composer Mro Giuseppe donated all the scores of her father and her two brothers Fr Anton SJ and Salvino. The hymns of Giuseppe Caruana are still very popular and some of them have earned international recognition. In this catalogue we find 134 sacred works of Mro. Giuseppe Caruana namely Messa da Requiem No 1, various masses, liturgical music and antiphons

Catalogue Cards nos. 6, 1833 – 2001

Catalogue 7

The continuation of the Caruana Colletion, featuring the most known hymns of Giuseppe Caruana and works by his son Fr Anton Caruana.

T’Adoriam | Nadurawk ja Ħobż tas–Sema

Composed in 1913 with lyrics written by Dun Karm Psaila especially for the XXIV Eucharistic Congress in Malta.
Mus. Ms. 2189

Innu ta’ Filgħodu | Morning Hymn

Composed by Giuseppe Caruana with lyrics written by Dun Karm Psaila,
Mus. Ms. 2185

The Giuseppe Doublet Collection 

Scores by various composers of the Cottonera area were donated by J. B. Cassar of Rabat.

Catalogue Cards nos. 7, 2001 – 2400

Catalgoue 8

Continuation of The Giuseppe Doublet Collection, featuring Maltese, Sciclian and Italian composers.

Tantum Ergo – Giuseppe Doublet
Melodia per una voce Sola e Coro – 1893
Mus. Ms. 2464

Catalogue Cards nos. 8, 2401 – 2581

Catalogue 9

The Carmelo Pace Collection 

This extensive collection was generously donated by the composer himself during his lifetime, with a duplicate in photocopy to assist researchers and with a detailed published catalogue of all his works. This particular catalogue holds 480 works which compromises in a wide range of musical forms.

Sejħa – Pace Carmelo 

A 30 minute composition for a chamber orchestra, choir and solo tenor composed in 1986. Verses written by Dun Karm Psaila. This work is dedicated to Archibishop Mons. Giuseppe Mercieca.
Mus. Ms. 2626

L’Imnarja – Pace Carmelo

Composition for band, to commemorate ‘A day of village merry making to celebrate the feast of St. Peter and St. Paul’
Mus. Ms. 3056

Catalogue Cards nos. 9, 2582 – 3052

Catalogue Cards nos. 9, 3053 – 3061

Catalogue 10

The Don Pietro Paolo Galea Collection

The De la Salle Community of Cottonera donated the scores composed by their confrere Pietro Paolo Galea. Amongst a collection of 60 works, one finds an opera entitled L’Ereda di Marolles dated 1926.

L’Ereda di Marolles – Don Pietro Paolo Galea 1926
Mus. Ms. 3158

Besides don Pietro Paulo’s own compositions, this catalogue holds one work of Galpetra Pio S. and other transcriptions by Pietro Paolo Galea  of international sacred and secular works.

Transcribed Scores from International and Local Composers 

 La Fanciulla del West – Puccini transcribed version – Mus Ms 3201 ff. 205,
front Cover of Mus. Ms. 3201

Catalogue Cards nos. 10, 3101 – 3201

Catalgoue 11

The Giuseppe Magri Collection 

53 scores were donated by the composer’s daughter in 1988. 50 of these mentioned scores were composed by Giuseppe Magri and other are transcribed scores from local and international composers. Besides sacred music this collection holds secular works like operas and operettas.

Transcribed Scores from international and local Compsers Mus. Ms. 3252 – 3254.

• Abela Scolaro J.
• Bugeja Vincenzo
• Silesu Leo

La Cena Infernale – Magri Giuseppe 
Mus. Ms. 2350

The Carlo Fiamingo Collection

A small collection of 19 scores by Giorgio and Carlo Fiamingo and other composers donated by Mr A. Briffa. Some of the manuscripts are transcriptions of re-knowned international composers like Verdi, Paganini and Berliotz.

La Ridda De Folletti – Fiamingo Giorgio, 1860
Composed for violin with orchestral or piano accompaniment and
dedicated to a friend of the composer, Giuseppe Vella.
Mus. Ms. 3257

Catalogue Cards nos. 11, 3202 – 3373

Catalogue 12

The Salvatore Scicluna Collection 

302 scores donated in 1989 by the composer’s son Oreste. Around 200 works are composed by Salvatore Scicluna and only three by Calcedonio Scicluna. Scicluna composed in the style of the Motu Proprio and conducted music in a number of parishes and other churches.

Vespre Completo Per Le Domenica – Scicluna Salvo
Mus. Ms. 3424

Catalogue Cards nos. 12, 3374 – 3575

Catalogue 13

The Camilleri Collection

A collection of 437 works by various composers of the Camilleri family and other composers was received in 2 instalments by the wife and daughter of Mro Giuseppe Camilleri. The collection can be divided into 3 sections;

• Scores by Camilleri Composers
• Scores by other Maltese Composers
• Various Reductions for band and orchestra.

Among the above sections one may find Emmanuele Galea’s Sinfonia Pastorale (ms 3801) and a rare manuscript by Alessandro Curmi (ms 3792) and other sacred and secular works that are still very popular during festivities in Malta.

Sinfonia Pastorale –
Galea Emmanuele
Mus. Ms. 3801

The Sweet Dream Valse – Dalli A.
Mus. Ms. 3793

Passio Doppio – Curmi Alessandro
Mus. Ms. 3792

Catalogue Cards nos. 13, 3576 – 4018 

𝕾𝖎𝖓𝖋𝖔𝖓𝖎𝖆 𝕻𝖆𝖘𝖙𝖔𝖗𝖆𝖑𝖊 -Emmanuele Galea
Video of Sinfonia Pastorale performed by Dr Abraham D’Amato for the occasion of 250 anniversary from its arrival at the Metropolitan Cathedral. The music is a popular one through the Islands which is performed yearly at every church during Christmas time. Special thanks goes to the organist Dr Abraham D’Amato and Elena Muscat from the archives team for putting together this video.

Catalogue 14

In this catalogue one finds 2 different collections;

The Abela Scolaro Collection

Sul Calvario – Abela Scolaro Joseph
Mus. Ms. 4139

Catalogue Cards nos. 14, 4019 – 4239.

Catalogue 15

Galea Misura Collection

Mostly coming from the Mallia Cassar Collection, this extensive collection was donated in two parts by the Galea family of Valletta and includes works by various Maltese composers. Manuscripts mostly connected with the Cottonera area of Malta. Other collections that are included in this catalogue are the Cassar Mallia and Doublet donations.

Salva Regina – Mallia Pulvirerenti Josie
Mus. Ms.  4447 and 1448,
donated by the authors’ daughter Nadia Dumpster in 1989.

Fr Daniel Sammut Collection

A prolific Carmelite Composer that donated his own scores during his life time. This is the only section in the archives that is still being updated. Manuscript number 4677 to 4704 are reserved for his collection.

In this catalogue one may also find Musical Treatises by various composers, Mus. Ms. 4453, 4454 – 4459.

• Burlo, donated by Paul Nani.

• Dr Vella Giuseppe, donated by Paul Nani.

  

Introduzione del’Armonia, Armonia, Acuistica, Elements of Harmony, Noti d’Armonia,
Introduzione alle Studi del’Armonia – Dr Vella Giuseppe,
Mus. Ms. 4454 – 4459.

Catalogue Cards nos. 15, 4240 – 4534.

Catalogue 16

A continuation of Mro Francesco Sammut and Fr Daniel Sammut’s Collections.

Analogies of Sacred Music – ‘Musica Sacra‘ , Mus. Ms. 4770
Forms part of Fr Daniel Sammut Collection. A hand-bound book of  different hand-written hymns
used in church and different religious settings.

This catalogue also compromises of other less extensive music donations from various communities and families, such as:

• Seminary, Mus. Ms. 4535 – 4552
• Josie Mallia Pulvirenti, Mus. Ms 4447, 4578 – 4584
• Diacono Carlo’s oratorio San Paolo Evagelizza I Maltesi, Mus. Ms 4675
• Band Music  of Vella Ganni of Mosta, Mus. Ms 4586 – 92
• Mro Charles Zammit manuscripts, Mus. Ms 4616- 4644

As part of the Seminary donation one finds duplicated music of Caruana Giuseppe, Abela Joseph Scolaro, Camilleri Ferdinando.

Catalogue Cards nos. 16, 4535 – 4774.

Catalogue 17

A continuation of Galea Misura  and Fr Daniel Sammut’s Collections and other small collections by individuals as listed in the document here-under.

Christus Factus Est, Mallia Cassar Francesco, Mus Ms 5004.
This manuscript forms part of the Galea Misura collection
 and is dedicated to the honourable ‘Ettore Limelli’.

As part of these mentioned recent donations the archives acquired a lot of fragmented music filed as ‘variuos music‘ (Mus Ms 5089 and 5222). It is a collection of different instrument parts from secular music by well-known composers like Bellini, Verdi, Strauss and Mendelssohn.

Catalogue 17 Handlist, 4775 – 5251

Catalogue 18

Mro Chev. Pawlu Grech Collection

In 2018, Ms. Amanda Tabone and Ms Ruth Cassingena, on behalf of Mro. Chev. Pawlu Grech, donated a number of music compositions from the 20th century by Mro. Grech.

The example below show excerpts from a piece composed in 1978 for Preparred Piano. A prepared piano is basically one that has various objects inserted into it to create different sounds and effects. These pianos are altered in a way to give the pianist more versatility in their performance and can change the sound and pitch of the instrument for increased diversity of sound.

 In the II Scherzo, the main material used is ping pong ball. The performer is asked to prepare around 10 balls and gives instructions on how to be used and for how long. 

In the IV Gran Finale ,the composer adds extracts of music to the manuscripts to be performed with aluminium pastry shapes inside the piano, covering most of the strings. This piece of music was premiered by the Greek Academy of Music in Cyrpus on the 3rd of July 1978.

Chev. Pawlu Grech, Divertimento for Pianist, Cover, Scherzo and Gran Finale  – 1978,
Mus Ms 5283.

Mgr Guido Calleja Collection

Donated to the Cathedral Archives in November 2018 by Ms Theresa Zammit Lupi on behalf of Mgr Guido Calleja.  A donation of sacred and secular music composed my Mgr Calleja.

Mro Joseph Bugeja donated 11 pieces of his own music composed for choir and organ to be performed in church services.

Mro Dion Buhagiar Collection

Prof Maestro di Cappella Emeritus Dion Buhagiar donated his works to the Cathedral Archives in 2023. Dion is known for his legacy in music teaching at the University of Malta, his musicological work on Francesco Azopardi and as a founder of Collegium Musicum choir and Orchestra.

The Catalogue was compiled in July 2024 by Elena Muscat and Danica Abela. The collection comprises of 316 sacred works and 5 secular works.

A number of programmes and posters were donated along the collection which now form part of our pamphlets section. Most of the sacred music section were composed to be performed for the liturgical services at the Cathedral of Malta in Mdina and the Co Cathedral in Valletta. The collection includes psalms, vespers, mass and hymns. He composed also a number of oratorios namely Kristu Sultan  and San Nikola.

Pamphlets Box 135 no 22 and 32

The Secular section consists of

• Il-Ħarsa ta’ Rużan Opera – on Francis Ebejer’s script
• 3 songs.

Handlist of  Mro Dion Buhagiar’s Music, ACM Mus Ms 5334 – 5655

Filagrana – l-ewwel Episodju
Intervista
Promo

Catalogue 18 Handlist, 4252 – 5655

Recent Donations

Mro Christopher Muscat, donated a number of his works to the archives in 2020. Besides composing music for chamber and orchestral works, Muscat is the Maestro di Cappella of the Cathedral.

Please note that Mro Christopher Muscat’s works are unnumbered due to newly compositions are still being recieved.

Mro Christopher Muscat, Quddiesa Dawl tal-Fidi.

Mro Christopher Muscat Handlist of works

A Collection of Printed Scores by Foreign Composers

These have been listed and conserved in 56 packs, the last eleven of which are works by Maltese composers.

Printed and Published Scores Collection

A collection of around 280 printed and published scores mainly by Maltese composers. Mostly of latter were published both locally and internationally mainly in Italy and France. In this collection one may find scores by the Maltese prominent composers from the Nani family, Caruana Giuseppe, Carmelo Pace, Charles Camilleri and others. Below is the index the music assorted into 11 flat boxes.

Index and Handlist of Printed and Publised Scores

Music Catalogues in Other Parishes’ Archives

The Mdina Cathedral archives holds catalogues of other church archives around Malta and Gozo.
Only one collection from the above catalogues is stored at the archives building. The Mellieħa Parish musical archives holds 316 scores by various composers, mainly by but mostly by Luigi Grech Grandolini have been given to the Cathedral and so far conserved and kept apart as a separate collection. The below are links to the digital catalogue of this collection.

Mellieħa Parish Church Music Archives Mus Mss 1 – 149

Mellieħa Parish Church Music Archives Mus Mss 150 – 316