It was with a great sense of delight that I read Joseph Vella's feature about Mro Joseph Fenech (The Sunday Times, April 27). As he aptly states, Mro Fenech's contribution to the musical heritage of his native Naxxar is impressive - not really in the volume of works but rather, in their evocative sensibility.

Our family used to refer to him as Ġużeppi l-organista, in the same way as many villagers who knew him. However, he was more than an organist. We considered him part of the family due to the close affinity and friendship he and his uncle, Dun Karm, had with my late father, Victor. All had a common denominator: the love for organ and sacred music.

Mro Fenech's last work is what I consider a magnum opus - the Missa Sancte Joseph for choir and orchestra, a full-scale Mass which also includes the Credo.

Though I did not have the opportunity to sing it in 1980, I had various opportunities to participate in its rendition during the last four years, including the performance held at St John's last February.

This Mass rouses emotions not only when listened to, but more so when sung. Mro Fenech took great care in expressing each word and phrase in their appropriate mood and to their fullest meaning.

His works show that music and text are intrinsically intertwined. To my mind come various instances such as the initial few bars of the Kyrie, the basses singing the God-fearing declaration of Domine Deus, the sweet lullaby-like Et incarnates est followed by the melancholic way to the cross (Crucifixus); the bold statement of our Christian faith (Et unam Sanctam Catholicam et Apostolicam Ecclesiam) followed by the reminder of Judgment Day (Et expecto resurrectionem mortuorum) and eternal life (et vitam venturi saeculi).

It is no wonder that his musical works performed at St John's received considerable acclaim and a standing ovation.

It was a fitting tribute to an exceptional musician of the highest order.