UNIVERSITY OF MALTA

Musica e musicisti alla Cattedrale di Malta nei secoli XVI-XVIII
(Music and musicians at the Malta Cathedral in XVI-XVIII centuries)
Franco Bruni
Msida (Malta): Malta University Press, 2001, 340 pp. 8°.
ISBN 99909-45-20-9

This study traces the history of the musical chapel of the Cathedral of Malta from the first musical activities, at the end of the 16th century, up to the 18th century. This work is the result of systematic research carried out on the archival documents as well as on the printed and manuscript music sources. Taking into consideration other local and foreigner musical institutions which had many contacts with the Mdina Cathedral, the history of its music chapel offers an interesting example of a very well organised institution, constantly up to date on the most recent musical trends.

CONTENT
Chap. I - The history of the music chapel
Chap. II - Maestros, organists, musicians and organs builders
Chap. III - The music collections
Chap. IV - The repertoire
Chap. V - Music, liturgy and ceremonies
Document transcriptions
Lists of employees (1600-1800)
The music inventory (1710)
Name index

Dr Franco Bruni can be contacted at: brunif@libero.it
website: http://staff.um.edu.mt/fbru1/

De Musica Melitensi. A Select Bibliography on Maltese Music
Franco Bruni
Msida (Malta): Malta University Press, 1998, 84 pp. 8°.
ISBN 99909-45-09-8

This reference tool is the result of a two-year research done by the author in collaboration with students of the Music Studies Programme of the University of Malta. It is the first publication to be dedicated to Maltese music bibliography. It seeks to provide information on what has been studied to date and to promote further research on Malta's musical heritage. The book lists 138 contributions whose bibliographic details and abstracts is provided. The bibliographic entries are divided into six main sections: General History, Institutions, Biographies, Music Sources and Catalogues, Analysis, Folk Music.

The book can be bought from the Malta University Publications (MUS ltd), University of Malta, Msida - MALTA
(Europe) tel. (+356) 343572, 313412/7 or 3290-2324, fax 344879

Dr Franco Bruni can be contacted at: brunif@libero.it
website: http://staff.um.edu.mt/fbru1/

A Select Bibliography on the Environment in the Reference and Melitensia Departments of the University of Malta Library
Compiled by Joanna J. Felice and Anton Pizzuto
Malta University Press, 1999

This work is the second bibliography on the environment, based on holdings of the University Library, published in the last recent years. The first, entitled, "Environment - a select bibliography," was published in 1992 and compiled by Anita Ragonesi and Joanna Felice. This bibliography was limited to 100 titles from foreign studies. Since then, interest from students and other environmental conscious persons has grown considerably. The concern of the public for environmental matters has increased; several new opportunities for environmental studies have arisen in the University of malta. Many graduate theses and undergraduate dissertations or long essays have been submitted. One of the authors, Anton Pizzuto is a graduate of one of these new programs. He is currently the Director of the Cleaner Technology Centre and Head, Scientific Division of Malta University Services Ltd., focal point on Cleaner Production of the Mediterranean Action Plan. On the other hand, Joanna Felice works as a Reference Librarian at the University Library and she is very much aware of the constant request of this important topical subject.
Traditionally, the Melitensia Collection at the University Library was considered by many to hold interest only for readers from the humanities. However, a large number of works suitable for scientists and students of science are also held in this Department. As many as 400 works from the area of local environmental science are documented in this publication. Prominent Maltese scientists have written some of these works.
For ease of Reference, the bibliography is divided into works from the Reference Department (including encyclopaedias, dictionaries, directories, Maltese legislation and legal notices) and Melitensia Department (including papers, reports, monographs, graduate theses and undergraduate dissertations or long essays). Each holding shows title of work, author, publisher, year of publication and shelfmark. A keyword index and an author index have been included to facilitate the use of this bibliography.
The compilers of this work plan to up-date the bibliography regularly.

Malta Collection of Italian Printed Music
"Stampe musicale italiane alla cattedrale di Malta: Storia e Catalogo della Collezione" by Dr Franco Bruni (ACM, Mus. Pr. 1-159), or "Italian printed music sources of Maltese cathedrals: History and Catalogue of the Collection", is a study of the origins and development of the Italian music printed collection. The collection is located at the Mdina Cathedral Archives and is made up 159 sets of polyphonic books. These include 17th century music representing the Roman, Venetian and Sicilian Polyphonic School. 23 sets of 159 are "unique" exemplars (mainly Sicilian sources) and not yet recorded on Repertoire International des Sources Musicales. The study is followed by an analytical/descriptive catalogue of the prints. Two appendices carry the transcription of the 1710 music inventory and a chronological list of the prints. "Stampe musicali italiane cattedrale di Malta: Storia e Catalogo della Collezione" is published by Publishers Enterprises Group (PEG) 1999. 199pp with illustrations and indices and bibliography. ISBN 99909-0-139-2.
For more information send e-mail to bruni@libero.it
To purchase the book go to: http://www.lim.it

Documentary Sources of Maltese History
Part I: Notarial Documents
No.2: Notary Giacomo Zabbara R494/1(II-IV): 1494-1497
Part II: Documents in the State Archives, Palermo
No. 1: Real Cancelleria: 1259-1400

These two new publications, both edited and compiled by Professor Stanley Fiorini, in the fast-growing new series "Documentary Sources of Maltese History", aim to make available to researchers and students of Maltese History the source material on which the writing of a serious and scholarly account of events can be solidly based. The series will eventually comprise several sub-series, by repository, containing transcripts of original "Maltese" material.
The first sub-series (Part I) is dedicated to notarial documents, the first two volumes of which embody the contracts drawn up by Notary Giacomo Zabbara which are contained in his extant first register that covers the years 1486-1497.
The second sub-series (Part II) comprises the "Maltese" documents at the State Archives of Palermo. The first volume in this sub-series brings together the documents that have survived in the Real Cancelleria up to 1400.
There are 425 documents in the Zabbara volume and 293 in the Cancelleria. A brief description and cross-references to related material introduce each document. Each volume is endowed with a detailed historical introduction that places the documents in their historical context as well as a select glossary of terms and full indices of personal names, place names and subjects. The Zabbara volume, furthermore, contains a Glossary of Legal Terms encountered in these contracts and is intended to clarify meanings that are often elusive to the general reader.

For further information contact Malta University Press at the University Campus, Msida, tel. 313416, fax: 344879

The Malta Book of Records
The pocket-size, 128-page "The Malta Book of Records" by Frans A. Attard is a mine of data, facts, firsts and records relating to Malta and the Maltese. The book is divided into 10 chapters and covers a wide spectrum of subjects including bans clubs, climate, astronomy, agriculture, business, entertainment, tourism, local councils and culture.
The aim of the book is to induce readers to bring light old records and achievements. Readers are also being invited to challenge the data, if possible. The book is in English but also includes summaries of each chapter in French, Italian and German.

New Book on Small Island States
The Islands and Small States Institute has just published a book with a report and a collection of papers on the sustainable development of small island developing states (SIDS) in the Indian Ocean, Mediterranean and Atlantic regions. These states form one of the main groups of SIDS, with the two other groups being situated in the Pacific and Caribbean regions. The book, which is published in collaboration with the United Nations Environment Programme (UNEP), contains papers on sustainable tourism, the Exclusive Economic Zone, many papers with country profiles, and the position of UNEP with regard to the sustainable development of SIDS.
More information can be obtained from the Secretariat of the Institute,
tel/fax: 248218
email: islands@um.edu.mt

Bioethics and Disability
The proceedings of the Conference on Bioethics and Disability held in December 1998 have now been published. The conference and the publication of the book was a joint effort by the Bioethics Consultative Committee and the Commission for Persons with Disability.

Books for Educators published by M.U.T.
School Development: Heading for Effectiveness in Education
Christopher Bezzina, 1988, pp.104

A New Vision for Primary Schools
Charles J. Farrugia (ed.), 1994, pp. vii + 320

Secondary Education in Malta - Challenges and Opportunities
Frank Ventura (ed.), 1996, pp.vi + 199

Towards the New Millennium: The Changing Role of the Head
Joseph Muscat (ed.), 1997, pp. vi + 168

Special Education: Towards a Better Future
Philip Stilon (ed.), 1997, pp.128

The Teacher
the thrice yearly bilingual magazine of the Malta Union of Teachers

New Testament in Maltese
The Malta Bible Society and the Malta Branch of the Gideons International have just published the New Testament with Psalms and Proverbs in Maltese. This pocket-size publication is very convenient for carrying around.
For further information call Gideons International in Malta on 658978 or the Malta Bible Society on 220318

Direttorju tal-Moviment Koperattiv Malti

On the 50th anniversary from the setting up of the first cooperative in Malta, the Cooperatives' Board issued this slim history of the whole cooperative movement in Malta. One additional reason is the opening of the Cooperatives' House at 105, Melita Street, Valletta.
The book, with a preface by the then minister for social policy Edwin Grech, intends to give cooperatives more information about each other thus encouraging them to work with more cooperation between them.
The book is valuable in that it lists no less than 40 cooperatives, ranging from the Koptaco whose 52 coaches one sees going around the island, to the Koperattiva Ndafa Pubblika which holds the contract for the public waste collection in most councils, to the very small Printers Cooperative Society with its eight members.

Handbook of Personnel Policies and Procedures - Updated Version
MISCO has issued an updated Handbook of Personnel Policies and Procedures, providing standard guidelines on human resource management and job standards.
Clauses in the original publication issued by MISCO in 1997, have been revised and new ones added. The handbook incorporates 63 policies and procedures. Copies are available from MISCO on Tel. 220303/239683.

Laws of Malta - CD Rom
The Ministry of Justice and Local Government in collaboration with the Law Revision Commission is launching the CD ROM 'Laws of Malta' which will include:

All laws up to 1^st January 1999

Updates every six months

User-friendly search software & installation

Cheapest of the market: Lm40 plus free 1st update.

Future facilities and initiatives:

On-line access of all laws with amendments available within days

Indexes and extracts of all published Court judgements up to December 1999

Full text of selected judgements after 1st January 2000

Subsidiary legislation.

Further information may be obtained from the Ministry of Justice and Local Government, Palazzo Verdelin, Archbishop's Street, Valletta.

Laws of Malta - Analytical Index of Titles

Judge Dr Riccardo Farrugia has undertaken the very tedious but very necessary chore of drawing up an analytical index of the titles of the Laws of Malta.
The laws enacted up to and including 1990 have been codified in eight volumes, while those enacted afterwards up to the end of 1994 have not yet been codified and are classed as new legislation.
Besides, to understand some of the complexity involved, certain laws have been replaced while others have had their titles changed.
After the analytical index, Dr. Farrugia also lists the legislation which is not yet in force, including such things as the whole Animal Food and Feeding Stuffs Act, the Employers' Liability (Compulsory Insurance) Act and Marine Pollution Act plus sections of other important acts such as the Environment Protection Act, the Water Services Corporation Act and the Arbitration Act.
The slim volume is sponsored by Mid-Med Bank.

A Directory of Libraries and Information Units in Malta
Ghaqda Bibljotekarji, October 1996

This book is a 300-page directory where you will find entries listed in an A-Z order by name and there are 4 indices:

a name and acronym index giving cross references to the organisation

a subject index listing individual entry numbers under each subject coverage to lead to the required unit

a category index which identifies libraries which are academic, government, public, school and special

a locality index showing you how libraries are dispersed in the towns of Malta and Gozo

Available at the AV Library, CCT @ Lm2.50 or Lm2.75 through the mail.
Cheques are payable to Ghaqda Bibljotekarji

Wings to Fly - Paths to Inner Freedom
Fr. Alfred Darmanin

This 300-page volume on applied psychology is Fr. Darmanin's fourth book. It deals with various psychological themes and applies them to everyday life.

Caring For Future Generations - Jewish Christian and Islamic Perspectives
Emmanuel Agius and Lionel Chircop (eds) Adamantine Studies on the 21st Century # 27
Adamantine Press Ltd (1998) ISBN 0-7449-0145-6

Written in the spirit of interreligious dialogue, the 22 contributions include chapters from world renowned Swiss theologian Hans Kung and Rabbi Jeremy Rosen. Other contributors come from Eqypt, Saudi Arabia, Pakistan, Belgium, the Czech Republic, Israel, Greece, Italy andthe USA.

Malta, the EU and YOU - A Practical Guide
In Malta, the European Union has become a household name. Much has been said and written about the EU but there remains a lack of understanding of the EU, particularly regarding how it operates and what Malta stands to gain or lose from membership. The book was written to fill that gap and is the first introductory guide of its kind. The guide refers to frequently-asked-questions in a simple and concise way. The guide is a team effort by specialists in the field of European law including, Joanna Drake, Nicolette Magri, Stefano Mallia and Simon Busutill (editor). The guide is published by Publishers Enterprises Group (PEG) Ltd and will be in bookshops from 29th January.

Il-Mara Maltija wara s-Sena 2000 (The Maltese Woman after 2000)

The collection of papers edited by Angela Callus take a look at women in Maltese society at the turn of the millennium. 14 articles consider women's various roles in society: their contribution to work, the economy, politics and the family.
Contributors include specialists in sociology, law, economics and education: Carmel Tabone, Lorraine Schembri Orland, Ronald G Sultana, Renee Laiviera, Godfrey Baldacchino, Lino Delia, Frances Camilleri, Bernadette Borda, Marselle Delicata, Sina Bugeja, Marianne Debono, Jane Spiteri and Dolores Cristina.
'Il-Mara Maltija Wara S-Sena 2000' is published by Publikazzjonijiet Indipendenza (1998). 137pp.

Maltese River Valleys

'Widien' is a book about Maltese river valleys. Co-authored by Joe Borg, Department of Agriculture, and Dr Sylvia Haslam, University of Cambridge, it contains an in-depth study of the island's unique river valleys and is illustrated with colour photographs.
Land photography and topographical surveys were used to compile the information, as well as consultation with experts on local flora and fauna.
The book, published in December, is sponsored by CIHEM, the Institute of Advanced Agricultural Studies for the Mediterranean in Bari, and by the Small Islands Institute at the Foundation for International Studies, and the Ministry of Agriculture.

Booklet published detailing Caravaggio's Restoration
The various phases of the three-year restoration of the famed Caravaggio painting have been gathered in a special publication. The publication contains full-colour illustrations demonstrating the different stages of the process undertaken in Florence by the Opificio delle Pietre Dure.
Contributions to the publication include essays by Dott. Marco Ciatti, director of the Painting Restorations at the Opificio and Ms. Paola Bracco, head restorer of paintings.
The articles give a detailed account of the restoration process including the early stages of analysis of the condition of the Beheading, its transportation to Florence, the tests undertaken with the use of sophisticated technology, as well as the later stages of intervention and the departure from Florence.
The book is available at the book-shop of the Museum of St. John's, the National Museum of Fine Arts and leading book stores.

Development Planning Legislation - The Maltese Experience
Kevin Aquilina; Mireva Publications; 708 pages; Lm14.95
This book, which consists of 708 pages in all, is undoubtly an indispensable tool for members of the legal procession and for architects who deal with issuers related to planning. It traces the origins of Maltese Planning Law, lists all the competent authorities involved in the development planning process and sets out their relative functions, discusses in great depth the relative legislation, lists all the planning documents currently in force and studies the legal status of all planning documents. Moreover the procedures adopted by the Planning Authority, the Development Control Commission and the Planning Appeals Board are analysed.
All planning-related decisions and judgements of the European Commission of Human Rights, the European Court of Human Rights, the Constitutional Court, the Court of Appeal and the Civil Court are summarised. Other decisions and judgements discussed in this book are those delivered by the Court of Magistrates (Gozo) and the Court of Criminal Appeal.
The publication contains a whole chapter on third party appeals, another on development planning and yet another on development control. Other chapters deal with the enforcement of development control, the scheduling process, development offences and penalties.
Dr. Aquilina's contribution to legal knowledge is very user friendly having a detailed Table of Contents, Table of Cases and Table of Statutes. An analytical index is also found at the end of the book.

Decizjonijiet dwar l-Ippjanar fuq CD
Order the CD from Legal (Publishing) Enterprises, Tel: 696272 or from the Planning Appeals Board, Tel: 244111. The CD costs Lm40 every year, a new CD will be issued, containing an updated version of the previous CD. This and further yearly updates for subscribers costs just Lm12.
The CD contains 1,800 decisions made by the Planning Appeals Board from 1993 till the end of April, 1999. It also contains all appeals to the Court of Appeal.
Wednesday, 8 June, 1999

Maltese Oral Poetry and Folk Music
by Guzè Cassar Pullicino and Charles Camilleri
Malta University Publishers (1998)
Maltese Oral Poetry and Folk Music is the title of a new book published by Malta University Publishers Ltd. It is a joint work divided into two parts - Part I is by Guzè Cassar Pullicino, folklorist and historian, and Part II by composer Charles Camilleri. Besides ghana proper and ballads (ghana tal-fatt) both authors have considered lullabies, children's rhymes and games, folk dancing and street cries.
Cassar Pullicino studies the historical development of oral poetry as a a folk art, throwing fresh light on the daqqaq in Maltese folk life, his role in weddings, funerals and popular feats, etc. The main writers on the subject, both local and foreign, are reviewed, with particular reference to the collection of texts by Italian and German scholars between 1895 and 1912. The introduction of gramophone records in Maltese in the thirties is also included in this survey.
In Part II Camilleri covers, from a musical angle, ghana and folk music, intonation and variations, notation (non-Western). The Maltese guitar, zaqq and dance tunes. In this publication he has transcribed and edited the surviving corpus of Maltese folk musical airs and melodies - some noted orally from peasants, others from tape recordings kept in the archives of the Public Broadcasting Services or reproduced from old publications.

Contents in Part I
The Daqqaq in Maltese Folk Life
18th Century Musical Vocabulary
Main Writers on Maltese Oral Poetry and Folk Music
Texts of Selected Maltese Quatrains
The Ballad (Ghana tal-Fatt)
Street Cries and Criers
Two Traditional Dances
Lullaby and other Rhymes

Contents in Part II
Ghana and Folk Music
The Maltese Guitar
Guitar Music
Il-Bormliza (Ghana fil-Gholi)
Ballads (Ghana tal-Fatt)
Collected Tunes
Lullaby and Children's Songs
Zaqq (Bagpipe) Tune

Maltese Folksong "Ghana":
A Bibliography and Resource material
L-Ghana Malti:
Bibljografija u Materjal iehor ghar-ricerka
compiled by Anita Ragonesi
edited by Gorg Mifsud Chircop
Malta University Press 1999
Maltese Folksong "Ghana":
A Bibliography and Resource Material which seeks to provide information on Maltese traditional folksong ghana in order to make it available to local and foreign researchers. It includes a bibliography, indicates sound and audiovisual recordings, lists names of folksingers and guitarists as well as the localities and different settings where ghana is sung.

On the passage of Air from the Lungs into the Blood System
Edition, translation and commentary
Joseph Demarco
Malta University Press 1999
Dottor Giuseppe Demarco, "versatissimo nel latino" and "illustre e dotto maltese", has made a name in the history of medicine in Malta, Montpellier and Tripoli in the 18th century. His versatility appears in the several manuscripts of his, mostly in Latin, which still await publication. His success, which has to be measured in relation to the state of science at the time he wrote, brought him suffering through the envy of his colleagues. This publication illustrates the controversy which Demarco entered in justifying what he considered as correct the theory on the presence of air in the blood system by his mentor Francois de Sauvage of Montpellier.

A Showcase for Maltese Culture

Publikazzjonijiet Indipendenza have launched an initiative which can only be described as one of the most ambitious in local publishing. For five years PIN will be undertaking to publish 12 monographs a year, touching on all aspects of Maltese culture. Published in an extremely attractive hard-cover version, these volumes will represent a most handsome collection on any bookshelf.
The first three monographs to be published are Guido Lanfranco's It-Trasport, Charles Savona Ventura's Il-Medicina, and Charles Briffa's In-Novella Maltija. The second three to be published in autumn will be Victor Xuereb's Il-Mitologija, Charles Cachia's Il-Molluska, and the first volume of Alfred G. Miceli's L-Opra f'Malta.

This page includes a sampler of recent Melitensia publications including titles of an educational and/or cultural nature. The Communications Office welcomes information on recent Maltese publications. Send e-mail to comms@um.edu.mt