Triumph over Death

The International Institute for Baroque Studies has officially launched the first volume of its Journal of Baroque Studies containing all the papers presented at a seminar entitled "The Triumph over Death - a Baroque Celebration", organised in conjunction with the Manoel Theatre Baroque festival last May.

The launching of the journal, edited by Dr Petra Bianchi and sponsored by the University of Malta, the Malta Tourism Authority and Chev. Roger de Giorgio, took place at St James Cavalier and included contributions from the authors of the various papers.

Professor Denis De Lucca, director of the International Institute for Baroque Studies, introduced the proceedings by speaking about the teaching and research activities of the Institute, emphasising how knowledge is being diffused to 50 students following the MA, diploma and certificate courses run by the Institute.

Professor De Lucca also gave a summary of his paper entitled "The Feste Funebre of Baroque Europe", focusing attention on the imaginative use of the effimero by Baroque architects in contemporary death rituals.

Dr Keith Sciberras explained the contents of his paper dealing with the monumental tombstones in the conventual church of St John's in Valletta, while architect Shirley Cefai described the studies carried out by the Institute on the Chapelle Ardente designed in 1726 by Romano Fortunato Carapecchia.

Mgr John Azzopardi also gave a presentation about his contribution entitled "Funerary Liturgical rites and Baroque music in the Mdina Rabat area in the 16th to early 17th centuries".

The proceedings were concluded by Professor Peter Serracino Inglott, chairman of the board of the International Institute for Baroque Studies, who discussed the theme of his contribution about "Philosophy and Death in the Baroque Age". He also stressed the importance of such publications in the working of the International Institute for Baroque Studies which has been very active in this and other fields since its foundation in 1996. He also mentioned the considerable contribution towards the foundation and activities of the Institute made by the late Dr Giovanni Mangion, to whose memory the first volume of this journal is very appropriately dedicated.

Professor De Lucca said that other publications being planned include the second volume of the Journal of Baroque Studies and the 2004 newsletter of the Institute, which will be published in conjunction with the Baroque Routes Network of the Council of Europe. The journal is available from Midsea Book Ltd, tel: 2149-6911, and from bookstores.