The first day of spring marks the birthday of Johann Sebastian Bach and the European Day of Early Music.

Early Music spans more than a millennium of music from the Middle Ages to the end of the 18th century. Through concerts, events and happenings taking place simultaneously across Europe, the European Day of Early Music is an important tribute to this historical musical heritage.

Ramona Zammit Formosawill perform during today’s lunchtime concert at the oratory ofSt Francis in Valletta.

In Malta, the Barocco Foundation is celebrating the day with a lunchtime concert at the Oratory of St Francis in Valletta. Pianist Ramona Zammit Formosa will perform the work of English composer Purcell, namely his Suite No. 1 in G (Prelude-Almande-Courant-Minuet), the Spanish composer Narvaez’s work Fantasia  X del quarto tono and  the German composer Bach’s Prelude in C Major. The programme ensues with the German composer Telemann’s Fantasie in D Major and the French composer Rameu’s three compositions:  Les Sauvages, Les Cyclopes and La Dauphine. Italy will be represented by Marcello’s Concerto in D minor (Allegro-Adagio- Presto). This concert is being held as part of an effort to raise funds for the Franciscan church.

Later on, Vibe (Valletta International Baroque Ensemble) will present a concert at the Carmelite church in Mdina at 8pm. The ensemble will perform works by Purcell, Biber, Telemann, Charpentier and Mikel’Anġ Vella.

■ The lunchtime concert is happening today at the Oratory of St Francis in Valletta at 12.30pm. Tickets for the lunchtime concerts can be obtained from the venue itself half an hour before the concert begins. For more info, call 7968 0952 or send an e-mail to baroccomalta@gmail.com.

The Vibe concert is taking place at the Carmelite church in Mdina at 8pm. Tickets can be purchased online by visiting www.teatrumanoel.com.mt, by sending an e-mail to bookings@teatrumanoel.com.mt, or by calling the theatre’s booking office on 2124 6389.  Subsidised tickets for students and senior citizens apply for this concert.

The European Day of Early Music is a project piloted by Rema (Réseau Européen de Musique Ancienne/European Early Music Network) which is the only representative for early music in Europe. It was created in Ambronay, France, in 2000. The network now boasts a membership of around 75 Early Music organisations from 21 countries.

Rema organises regular conferences, runs a web-based radio station (www.remaradio.eu) dedicated to early music in general, and more specifically to its member organisations and to young ensembles.

Rema’s aim is to facilitate a collaborative network for its members and to encourage the sharing of information, knowledge and cooperation among them.