Charles Camilleri

Charles Camilleri (7 September 1931 – 3 January 2009) was a Maltese composer.

Early life

Camilleri was born in Ħamrun on 7 September 1931[1] to musical parents Carmel Camilleri and Josephine Quinton.[2] He received initial piano tuition and grounding in the rudiments of music from his father.[3] As a teenager, he composed many works based on folk music and legends of his native Malta. He studied under Joseph Abela Scolaro, Paul Nani and Carmelo Pace.[3] In 1959, he studied under John Weinzweig at the University of Toronto for four years.[4] Whilst in Toronto, he had contact with Stravinsky around the time of April 1962.[5]

Career

Camilleri moved from his early influences by Maltese folk music to a musical form "in which nothing is fixed and his compositions evolve from themselves with a sense of fluency and inevitability".^[citation needed] He composed over 100 works for orchestra, chamber ensemble, voice and solo instruments. Camilleri's work has been performed throughout the world and his research of folk music and improvisation, the influences of the sounds of Africa and Asia, together with the academic study of European music, helped him create a "universal" style.

According to the Historical Dictionary of Malta, Camilleri is the most internationally recognized of major Maltese composers.[1] His works include Malta Suite, Maltese Dances, A Maltese Overture - Din l-Art Helwa, operas in Maltese, a ballet based on the Knights of Malta and the oratorio Pawlu ta' Malta. His piano piece Cantilena, is currently part of the Grade 5 Trinity Guildhall piano syllabus.[6] The Missa Mundi for solo organ was described by its first publisher as "the organ's Rite of Spring".[7] Noospheres (1977) was premiered at Canada House in London on 12 May 1979 by Kyla Greenbaum (Crowcroft) and subsequently recorded by her.[8][9]

Death and legacy

He died on 3 January 2009 at the age of 77.[10] His funeral took place two days later at Naxxar, his long-time town of residence.[11] Flags across Malta were flown at half-mast in tribute to him.

In 2014, the Central Bank of Malta issued a silver €10 and gold €50 coin in Camilleri's honour - and as part of the EUROPA star collector coin series which highlights European culture and events on an annual basis.[12]

Works

• Malta Suite (1946)
• Piano Concerto No. 1 "Mediterranean" (1948, revised 1978)[13]
• Fantasia Concertante no. 5 (1957)[14]
• Maltese Dances (1957)[13]
• Divertimento No. 2 for clarinet and piano (1957)[15]
• Fantasy Fugue, for strings (1960)[13]
• Piano Concerto No. 2 "Maqam" (1969)[16]
• Melita, 1-act opera (1968)[17]
• Missa Mundi, for organ[17] (in five movements: 1. The Offering; 2. Fire over the Earth; 3. Fire in the Earth; 4. Communion; 5. Prayer), (1968)[13]
• Paganiana,[a] variations for piano four-hands (1968)[18][19]
• Mantra (1969)[20]
• Maltese Dances, arranged for large orchestra, (1969)[13]
• Piano Trio (1970)[16]
• Cosmic Visions, for 42 strings (1974)[13]
• Missa Brevis, SATB choir of mixed voices (1975)[21]
• Wine of Peace, for organ (1976)[22]
• Noospheres, for piano (1977)[23]
• L'amour de Dieu, for organ (1978)[24]
• Morphogenesis, for organ (in five movements: 1. Le Cœur de la Matière; 2. L'énergie humaine; 3. L'atomisme de l'esprit; 4. Activation de l'énergie humaine; 5. Le monde de la Matière) (1978)
• Four African Sketches for guitar (1980),[14] dedicated to J.H. [Kwabena] Nketia), Folk Prelude; Shadow of the Moons; Circle Dance, African Rhondo
• Three Pieces from Chemins (1980)[14]
• Clarinet Concerto (1981)[25]
• Concerto for organ, strings and percussion (1981)[26]
• Organ Concerto (1983)
• Piano Concerto No. 3 "Leningrad" (1986)[27]
• The Four Elements, for two mandolins, a mandola and guitar (1988)[14]
• Cello Concerto (1989)
• Flute Concerto (1993)
• Maltese Cross, opera (performed in Paris in 2003 conducted by Christophe Vella)
• Shomyo, for oboe (2001)
• Shomyo, for clarinet (2001)
• Shomyo, for flute (2001)
• Sonata Breve, for oboe and piano (2002)

Notes

1. This is a set of variations on the 24th Caprice of Paganini, but its title is Paganiana rather than the expected Paganiniana

References

1. Rudolf, Uwe Jens; Berg, Warren G. (2010-04-27). Historical Dictionary of Malta. Scarecrow Press. p. 51. ISBN 978-0-8108-7390-2. Born on 7 September 1931 in Hamrun to a musical family, Camilleri is the most accomplished and internationally recognized of all Maltese composers.
2. The International Who's Who, 1991-92. Europa Publications Limited. 1991. p. 256. ISBN 978-0-946653-70-6. Camilleri, Charles ... composer, 7 Sept. 1931, Malta; s. of Carmel Camilleri and Josephine Quinton;...
3. Schiavone, Michael (2023-09-07). "Biography: Charles Camilleri". Times of Malta. Retrieved 2024-10-22. He studied at the Lyceum and his music studies from his father, and later Joseph Abela Scolaro, Paul Nani and Carmelo Pace.
4. Annala, Hannu; Matlik, Heiki (2010-10-07). Handbook of Guitar and Lute Composers. Mel Bay Publications. p. 61. ISBN 978-1-60974-353-6. Camilleri, Charles (born 1931), Maltese/British composer and conductor. In addition to his home country Malta, he studied music at the University of Toronto with John Weinzweig in 1959-63.
5. Music and Musicians. Vol. 35. 1987. p. 34. Camilleri in Conversation ... Then he met Stravinsky in Toronto in April 1962...
6. "Piano Grade 5 | Trinity College London". www.trinitycollege.com. Trinity TCL015389. Retrieved 2025-01-10. 6. Charles Camilleri: Cantilena.
7. "Parties Pay tribute to Charles Camilleri". Malta Independent. 5 January 2009. Retrieved 10 January 2025. In 1972, the prestigious recording company DECCA recorded his Missa Mundi, a five-movement piece for the pipe organ which his publisher nicknamed "the organ's Rite of Spring.
8. Musical Opinion. Musical Opinion. 1979. p. 129. Subsequently, on April 25, Camilleri will be a guest of the University of Aberdeen. Then three weeks later Kyla Greenbaum (Crowcroft) will be giving the London premiere of Noospheres at Canada House (May 12).
9. Charles Camilleri - Stone Island Within / Noospheres / The Flower And The Wind, 1980, retrieved 2025-01-10
10. Montfort, Eric (2009-03-27). "Charles Camilleri". The Guardian. ISSN 0261-3077. Retrieved 2025-01-09.
11. Shenton, Kenneth (27 January 2009). "Charles Camilleri: Composer who progressed from light music to austere, abstract, modernist works". The Independent. Retrieved 9 January 2025.
12. "Malta: 2014 Charles Camilleri Gold and Silver Commemorative Coins | Coin Update". news.coinupdate.com. Archived from the original on 2018-07-09. Retrieved 2015-06-18.
13. Bondin, Joseph Vella (2001). Camilleri, Charles. Vol. 1. Oxford University Press. doi:10.1093/gmo/9781561592630.article.04660. ISBN 978-1-56159-263-0.
14. Annala, Hannu; Matlik, Heiki (2010-10-07). Handbook of Guitar and Lute Composers. Mel Bay Publications. p. 61. ISBN 978-1-60974-353-6. Camilleri, Charles (born 1931), Maltese/British composer and conductor ... For a solo guitar: "Four African Sketches" (1980); "Fantasia Concertante no. 5"; "Three Pieces from Chemins." For two mandolins, a mandola and guitar: "The Four Elements" (1988).
15. Schwann-1, Record & Tape Guide. ABC Schwann Publications. 1981. p. 59. Camilleri, Charles (1931-) Divertimento No. 2 for Clarinet & Plano (1957).
16. The International Who's Who, 1991-92. Europa Publications Limited. 1991. p. 256. ISBN 978-0-946653-70-6. 2nd Piano Concerto 1969, Piano Trio 1970, String Quartet...
17. Kennedy, Michael; Kennedy, Michael (1985). The Oxford dictionary of music. Oxford; New York: Oxford University Press. p. 122. ISBN 978-0-19-311333-6.
18. Murray McLachlan Archived July 20, 2011, at the Wayback Machine
19. "Paganiana : variations for piano four-hands". hydi.um.edu.mt. M204.C3. Retrieved 2025-01-12 – via L-Università ta' Malta. Original date of composition 1968.
20. "Ateş Orga - Charles Camilleri: World Traveller". www.atesorga.com. 2015. Retrieved 2025-01-09. ...Not in person initially but through a photostat of his Mantra for piano which'd been sent to me by the Australian pianist Ruth Nye.
21. Dunnett, Roderic (July 1995). "Gentle devotion". Choir & Organ. 3 (3): 59. Camilleri's choral pieces, spread across several publishers … the Agnus from his earlier Missa Brevis (1975) would make an attractive anthem on its own.
22. "Wine of peace / Charles Camilleri. [music] - Catalogue | National Library of Australia". catalogue.nla.gov.au. Retrieved 2025-01-10. Publication date: 1976.
23. Music and Musicians International. Filmtrax. 1988. p. 36. Noospheres for piano (1977)...
24. "L'amour de Dieu : for organ solo / Charles Camilleri. [music] - Catalogue | National Library of Australia". catalogue.nla.gov.au. Retrieved 2025-01-12. Time Coverage: 1978.
25. Music and Musicians. Vol. 35. 1987. p. 35. LCCN 59029972. Clarinet Concerto for his old friend Jack Brymer (1981)...
26. "Konzerte, Org Orch (1981)". portal.dnb.de. DNB, Katalog der Deutschen Nationalbibliothek. Retrieved 2025-01-12. [Camilleri] Concerto for organ, strings and percussion.
27. Senior, Evan (1986). Music & Musicians. Hansom Books. p. 9. Camilleri is in his mid-50s, … he conducted the world premiere of his new Third Piano Concerto in Leningrad in October 21st with the Leningrad Philharmonic Orchestra.

External links

• https://web.archive.org/web/20070927094652/http://www.maltatoday.com.mt/2001/0624/people.html
• https://web.archive.org/web/20070724201332/http://www.collegium-musicum.net/cc.asp
• Charles Camilleri: Prolific Maltese composer with a worldwide reputation