CD of sacred music

During a recent visit to Malta, I was fortunate to come across the set of CDs of Maltese Sacred Music sponsored by APS Bank. I write to applaud this cultural initiative and to say how very much I have enjoyed listening to the recordings.

I have been a regular visitor to Malta and Gozo for almost 30 years, during which time I have become acquainted with the islands' rich patrimony of sacred music. The APS initiative has not only brought to the public's attention a wide selection of music that would otherwise have undoubtedly remained consigned to the archives, but has also enabled it to be performed to a rather higher standard than might otherwise have been possible and recorded for posterity under the direction of Fr John Galea; he and his fellow musicians are to be congratulated on their performances, which, overall, are very commendable, given the wide range of musical styles that needed to be assimilated and respected in performance. In addition, I must say that I found the accompanying booklets extremely well written and informative; Mr Vella Bondin succeeded in striking just the right balance, my only regret being the absence of any indication as to where more extended biographical details of the composers might be found.

I sincerely hope that the APS initiative will not cease with the publication of these five CDs, but will extend to a second series of recordings. For excellent as it is, the present series only scratches the surface of the vast archive of Maltese sacred music which deserves a much wider exposure and appreciation than it currently enjoys, particularly internationally. Hopefully any such second series would contain more contributions from the Bugeja dynasty, as well as from the oeuvre of the extremely talented Gozitan priest-musician, Mgr Giuseppe Farrugia.

Well done APS!