The Vella Composers Dr Giuseppe Vella (1827-1912), and his sons
Alberto (1866-1931),
Luigi (1868-1950) and Paolo (1873-1948). Biographical notes
and a complete catalogue
of their works at the Cathedral Museum, Mdina - Malta
Collegeville (Minn.): Hill Monastic Manuscript Library St John’s University
& Mdina (Malta):
Cathedral Museum, 1997, 255 pp., 8°, photos, music facsimile,
indexes and bibliography
ISBN 99909-51-02-0
This book, the second of a group of catalogues in course of publication,
is a useful reference tool addressed to
music students, scholars and researchers. The music of the Vella composers,
one of the leading families of music
makers between the 19th and 20th centuries, represents one of the biggest
music collections to be found on the
Maltese Islands (ca. 700 mss. and 19 prints). It forms part of the
Cathedral Museum Archives and covers, practically,
all musical genres in the sacred, instrumental and operatic field.
The "uniqueness" of this collection, justifies the
compiling of this catalogue which offers a contribution to the history
of Maltese music.