(Adds Education Minister's reaction, condolences)

Maltese composer Charles Camilleri died this morning, aged 77.

Mro Camilleri, who has made a name for himself and for Malta all over the world, embarked on his career in his teenage years composing a number of works based on Maltese folk tales and legends.

Later on in life he conducted, wrote film scores, operas, orchestral works, chamber ensembles, concertos, operas, a ballet, the oratorio Pawlu ta’ Malta and the famous Malta Suite.

His Missa Mundi, a five movement piece for organ, has been described as the organ’s “rite of spring”.

He has over 300 compositions, half of which are recorded on some 36 CDs, sold all over the world.

Education Minister Dolores Cristina said that Malta had lost a person who had greatly honoured it, locally and internationally.

His was a great loss for Malta and culture, which he so much loved. His ambition had been to place Maltese culture at the same level as that of countries much bigger than Malta.

Condolences were also expressed by the Nationalist and Labour parties as well as Alternattiva Demokratika and Azzjoni Nazzjonali.