Malta's history in living sound

Apart from her people, and her faith, Malta's chief glory is her heritage.

When visiting Malta as I regularly do, I am impressed at the care and activity undertaken in the restoration of its remarkable architectural heritage and the visual arts of this island nation. Coming from Australia it is an amazing contrast to that of our young country, one so successfully peopled by many Maltese Australians.

However, Gerard Hyland's letter (August 9) on the lack of appreciation of Malta's own musical history struck a chord; and please forgive my pun.

Malta's great buildings show her place in the history of the Mediterranean. Its visual arts, painting, sculpture and silver work all illustrate the talents of a society that has played and continues to play a pivotal role in European history.

However, the sounds of its past eras can also be brought alive by the rediscovery and performance of its unique musical heritage, one that survives in Malta's libraries and archives as well as in private hands.

It has been my privilege to edit and publish some volumes of Malta's music ranging from the baroque to the late Romantic period.

I have gained an awareness of the standards and the unique individuality of this music. Yet I often hear of Maltese dismissing their own musical heritage as being of little worth. They are mistaken.

Taking into account recent discoveries, the works of composers such as Isouard, Michel Angelo Vella, Azzopardi and Bugeja all demonstrate their music a quality that if it belonged to Australia it would be cherished.

Writing as a partial outsider, may I ask the Maltese explore and grow to appreciate the wonderful heritage in living sound that could be theirs through live and recorded performances of this wealth of musical treasures?

Malta's music is Malta's history in sound and unlike other music, it is hers. Preserving and performing it will bring the nation's heritage alive and sounding forever.