A concert of Maltese baroque music by Benigno Zerafa (1726-1804)

Abstract

It is with a sense of satisfaction and fulfilment that we are presenting the Benigno Zerafa Concert. For us it represents an achievement of specific-goals we set in our cultural programme and a promise of further collective efforts for the deserved recognition of our composers. Maltese music composition representing a substantial corpus of our cultural heritage, was for many years abandoned and neglected. The few concerts then held in Malta hardly included Maltese composers whether past or present. The only exception was the music still heard in our churches on festa days. This was a challenge which a Ministry responsible for culture could neither disregard or shun. One of my principal goals as, Minister responsible for culture was the encouragement of new compositions by Maltese composers and their presentation to the public, as well as the revival of works by old, often forgotten, Maltese composers. Anyone connected with this particular area of music appreciation can testify that this was no easy challenge. This was a task which the Culture Division of my Ministry approached with determination and perseverance. I am glad to record that our efforts have not only been rewarded but Maltese music composition as well as revival performances of old Maltese composers have never been as frequent as in recent years. Revival performances require a lot of dedicated research and painstaking editing. Naturally no praise is enough for those who have preserved, and recently reorganised our musical archives attracting attention to and a reassessment of our musical heritage. It is also heartening to note that our musical directors and research workers found this exercise a rewarding experience which the Culture Division promotes and encourages. This concert dedicated wholly to compositions by the eighteenth century Maltese composer Benigno Zerafa represents a landmark in our determined efforts towards a better appreciation and evaluation of our musical heritage. I congratulate the St Julians Choir and all those who have contributed selflessly towards the realisation and success of this concert. Their dedication has raised Malta's cultural prestige.