I do not know whether the article was based on material supplied by Maltapost. But, regrettably, the section on the personality commemorated by the 46c stamp contains two factual mistakes.

The internationally recognised and accepted name of the 18th century Maltese composer is not Geronimo Matteo Abos but Girolamo Abos. With reference to this composer, the text states that: “His career in music was guided by a kinsman, an organist with the celebrated musical cappella of St John’s conventual church, who enabled him to pursue his studies in Naples.” Abos had no kinsman who was an organist of St John. The kinsman who enabled Abos to pursue his studies in Naples was Carol Farrugia, a conventual chaplain in the Order’s Langue of Italy, skilled in canto fermo, and uditore to various grandmasters.

It is now probably too late to correct these mistakes and the inopportune corollary is that wrong information about a major Maltese composer originating unfortunately from his native land may be in the process of being transmitted to philatelists and others all over the world.

My book, Il-Muzika ta’ Malta sa l-Ahhar tas-Seklu Tmintax (PIN, 2000), contains the relevant information. That work and my companion book Il-Muzika ta’ Malta fis-Sekli Dsatax u Ghoxrin (PIN, 2000) provide the most comprehensive history of music in Malta published so far and as up-to-date as I could make it. It is indeed a shame that although books of reference are available, mistakes, of which the ones about Abos are but a case in point, are still being disseminated, and even in copy meant for an international readership.

Joseph Vella Bondin

St Venera

Editorial note: The information in the article was provided by Maltapost