My home library includes a book I had reviewed some years back, A Musical Legacy - Malta-related music found in foreign libraries, researched and penned by music historian Dr Anna Borg Cardona. I am once again delving into the topic, speaking to Dr Borg Cardona about Fondazzjoni Patrimonju Malti's forthcoming Music in Malta - From prehistory to vinyl exhibition, a project including a string of performances, one of which is by the Ġukulari Ensemble.

Dr Borg Cardona is involved on two levels - as guest curator of the FPM exhibition, and as performer in the Ġukulari Ensemble. She had formed the Ġukulari Ensemble back in 2002 in order to perform music related to Malta. "I had discovered this vast array of music in libraries abroad and subsequently included it in the book A Musical Legacy. Since then, we have always been performing Malta-related music derived from different levels of society, from that of the upper rungs to folk music. The name Ġukulari was chosen because the first documented musicians we know of in medieval Malta were called so. We perform on classical as well as folk instruments, but most importantly, everything we play is placed within its historical context. The musicians are Anne Marie Camilleri Podesta, Silvio Zammit, Ramona Zammit Formosa, John Cassola, Bettina Borg Cardona and myself. Our concert on 5 March is entitled Following the trail. We shall be resuscitating some lovely music from libraries, archives and private collections, while following the hidden exciting stories of each piece."

On a curatorial level,  Dr  Borg Cardona  was informed of the intent to hold a Music in Malta exhibition way back in 2009 and has been preparing for its curation ever since. "I was constantly on the lookout for possible exhibits on the islands, but work in earnest started some four years ago. Collections had to be viewed and possible instruments, music and musical iconography had to be very carefully researched. The exhibits cover many areas of specialisation, for which I needed to consult specialists kind enough to offer their expertise in their own field. This was all very time-consuming. Although I am curating this exhibition, there is a whole dedicated team of people at FPM busily working on organising, designing, photographing instruments, putting together a wonderful catalogue of the exhibits, working on the audio and music, as well as seeing to the performances being put up as part of the whole project, one of which is the one by the Ġukulari Ensemble. Yes, there is a great deal of exciting, wonderful stuff in store!"

She admits that this is a huge project and nothing like it in the music field has ever taken place in Malta or Gozo. The vast terrain being covered - from prehistory to vinyl - is definitely a very demanding and daunting task. So, the organising team is constantly treading new ground in order to put it all successfully together.

Needless to say, some antique and peculiar instruments will be shown. "I can think of several of the sort, but I will mention only two: one is an early piano that also uses pedals for so-called "Turkish" percussive effects - cymbals, drums, bells and bassoon buzz. Another curious instrument is an unusually-shaped contrabass trombone that was a "prototype, made for the first time ever, by the renowned firm of Boosey and Hawkes, London. It was created purposely for the Carabott establishment in Malta, which makes it very special indeed!"

The exhibition is due to open to the public in April. The Ġukulari Ensemble performance is the third one being held as part of the music-related events, the first having been an Etnika performance in November 2018, followed by a Cappella Sanctae Catherinae performance in December 2018. The next performance in line after Ġukulari Ensemble will be by Renzo Spiteri in April.

• Following the Trail by Ġukulari Ensemble - Chapter Hall, Mdina Cathedral - performance on 5 March at 7pm. Entrance is free on a first come basis.
• Music in Malta - From Prehistory to vinyl exhibition at the Mdina Cathedral Museum - 14 April to 16 June

For further information and a full programme of events, visit www.musicinmalta.com; www.patrimonju.org