Maestro Joseph Vella, right, and Christopher Hyland.

Back in the 1950s, Christopher Hyland was a young child enthralled by the operas and concerts which he attended with his parents at some of America’s greatest opera houses and concert halls.

After attending the Children’s Opera Series at the Boston Symphony Hall, 11-year-old Christopher turned to the late conductor Arthur Fiedler and whispered that he wanted to create a Mass just as Mozart had done with his Requiem. The maestro replied: “Make sure it’s a wonderful one.”

This interaction often replayed itself in Mr Hyland’s mind and, fast forward two generations, Mr Hyland – now a successful editor and textile merchant – fulfilled his wish by commissioning Mro Joseph Vella to compose the exquisite Hyland Mass: A Prayer for Unity in Diversity.

The Mass was first performed during the Victoria International Arts Festival in Gozo and in the Manoel Theatre, featuring the Malta Philharmonic Orchestra, directed by Sigmund Mifsud, and the Laudate Pueri Choir, directed by George Frendo and Maria Frendo.

Upon first hearing the Hyland Mass at its completion, I was moved to tears

However, the Mass will now be taking the Maltese musicians beyond our shores. It will be performed in two prestigious locations: the Vatican and New York’s Carnegie Hall in autumn 2014 and January 2015 respectively.

The American philanthropist, who has visited the Maltese Islands several times, first came across Mro Vella when the latter was performing in Gozo in the mid-1980s.

A couple of years ago, Mr Hyland decided to act on his wish of commissioning a Mass. He started a lengthy correspondence with the conductor, where he outlined his vision of the Mass.

“I wanted it to break new ground in its structure and form. It should be a celebration of love, the acceptance of diversity and the recognition that we are all, each and every one of us, created, our natures unique, by the Almighty.”

Mro Vella composed the Mass in around five weeks, which was accompanied by the Hyland Fanfare and Anthem with lyrics by Lisa Zeiger.

He explained that he drew inspiration from five texts in five different languages: John Donne (English), the Old Testament (Maltese), August Neimayer (German), Alphonse de Lamartine (French), and Dante Alighieri (Italian).

“I have written several masses, mostly to be played during liturgical services. Initially, I was not too inclined to write another one in this line. But Christopher’s idea to write something to celebrate what one may call unity in diversity set me thinking.”

The music starts very softly and builds itself into a climax in the Gloria, after which it starts to subside again.

Mr Hyland himself waxed lyrical about Mro Vella’s accomplishment.

“Upon first hearing the Hyland Mass at its completion, I was moved to tears, recognising that, as the Swiss philosopher Karl Barth asserted, ‘Godliness resides in music’. He used Mozart as an example; I submit Vella as mine.”

From the beginning, he had always hoped the Hyland Mass would be performed at the Vatican and at Carnegie Hall.

“As if in a moment of grace, John Hale and Hans Courtial [who are organising the performances at Carnegie Hall and the Vatican respectively] came into my life – it was quite amazing.”

And what would his next Malta musical project be?

“I would love to commission an opera for the 21st century, one that would be well tried and tested before V18, not to mention the numerous celebratory events that will take place in Malta over the next few years.”