Charles Camilleri

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Charles Camilleri (born 7 September 1931 in Hamrun) is a Maltese composer, long acknowledged as Malta's national composer.

At a very early age, indeed as a teenager, had already composed a number of works based on folk music and legends of his native Malta. His work-list includes the now famous "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 piece,'Cantilena',is currently part of the Grade 5 Trinity Guildhall piano syllabus.

Camilleri is today recognized as one of the major composers of his generation. He has 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". He has 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, have helped him create a "universal" style.

[edit] Works

Piano Concerto No. 1 "Mediterranean" (1948, revised 1978)
Piano Concerto No. 2 "Maqam" (1967/8)
Piano Concerto No. 3 "Leningrad" (1986)
Malta Suite (1946)
Cello Concerto (1992)
Flute Concerto (1993)
Clarinet Concerto (1981)
Organ Concerto (1983)
Piano Trio (1972)
Missa Mundi, for organ (in five movements: 1. The Offering; 2. Fire over the Earth; 3. Fire in the Earth; 4. Communion; 5. Prayer) (1972)
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)
Wine of Peace, for organ (1976)
Cosmic Visions, for strings (1976)
Noospheres, for piano (1977)
L'amour de Dieu, for organ (1978)