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The Maltese National Anthem Amongst those symbols which identify our country and nation, we find the National Anthem. This Anthem is one of the most important national symbols our country possesses. In 1922, Colonel Robert Samut composed a short piece of music. This piece of music fell into the hands of A. V. Laferla, who at the time was Director of primary schools, and who was thinking of appointing someone to write a short anthem for children to sing in government schools. When he heard Samut’s music, he was touched and it was not long before he spoke to Dun Karm, who agreed to write the verses for this piece of music. This is how the Maltese National Anthem was born – a prayer to God composed of six verses of eleven syllables each (hendecasyllabic). It was played for the first time on the 3rd of February 1923 during a musical-literary concert organized by the Ghaqda Kittieba tal-Malti in the Manoel Theatre. Further on, the same Anthem was arranged to be played by a band, and the first band which played it was the Kings’ Own band of Valetta during the National Day in 1936. On the 27th of February 1941, it was officially declared as the National Anthem. Professor Colonel Robert Samut was born in Floriana on the 12th of October 1869. He studied medicine and graduated at the Royal University of Malta and the University of Edinburgh and was also awarded a medal for his exceptional ability in anatomy. He was a Professor of Physiology, Bacteriology and Pathology at the Royal University of Malta. From a young age, he had shown interest in music and had also wished to study music but his father did not approve and consequently he continued with his career in medicine. Even though Samut did not study music professionally, he was very good when it came to melody and composition. He was a talented piano player and singer as well as a painter. In 1922, Professor Colonel Robert Samut composed a short piece of music which was to be the music for the Maltese Anthem. It is a shame that Professor Colonel Robert Samut did not live long enough to see the importance his composition achieved, because he died at the age of 64 in 1934. He lies buried in the Portelli chapel at the Addolorata cemetry. The Maltese Anthem Guard her, O Lord, as ever Thou hast guarded, this Motherland so dear whose name we bear: Keep her in mind, whom Thou hast made so fair. May he who rules, for wisdom be regarded, in master mercy, strength in man increase: Confirm us all, in unity and peace Reproduction of a booklet containing the music and verses of the Maltese National Anthem in Maltese and English (Credit: http://schoolnet.gov.mt) Dun Karm was born on the 18th October 1871, in Żebbuġ. When he was 23 years old Dun Karm was ordained a priest at Saint John’s Co-Cathedral. After a few months he began teaching at the seminary in Floriana and later on in Mdina as well. He taught various subjects amongst which were English, Italian and Latin in the Minor Seminary, as well as the History of the Church and Christian Archeology to theology students of the Major Seminary. In 1896 Dun Karm published his first collection of poems in Italian, with the title Foglie d’Allore. This collection is made up of 37 poems written when he was between 17 and 24 years of age. On the 11th of January 1912, after discussions with Mons. Pawl Galea and Ġużè Muscat Azzopardi, who shared with Dun Karm their idea of publishing a periodical in Maltese which they were going to call Il-Ħabib, Dun Karm published his first poem in Maltese. As he writes in this poem, he describes himself kneeling in front of a figure of Our Lady which he had in his room at his house in Valletta, and prayed with these same words ‘Dear mother, tell me what to write; I wish to begin with a poem written for you’ This is how he wrote the poem entitled ‘In front of figure of Our Lady’. In 1921 he started to work as an Assistant Librarian in the National Library at Valletta. Between 1922 and 1923, Dun Karm wrote the Maltese National Anthem using the music which was earlier composed by Prof. Robert Samut. Among his works, we find poems such as ‘The Me and beyond him’ (Il-Jien u Lil hinn minnu) and the sonnet ‘To Dun Mikiel Xerri’ (Lil Dun Mikiel Xerr’). Dun Karm also compiled a Maltese-English dictionary. Dun Karm died on the 3rd of October 1961 at the age of 90 and is buried at the cemetry in Żebbuġ.
National Days A nation goes through various milestones which leave their mark on the lives of the people. As an individual experiences important phases and predicaments throughout his life, so does a nation. This is why during the year, a nation recollects those achievements and commemorates events pertaining to its journey in history. Victory Day, 8th September, 1565, commemorates the victory of the Order of Saint John and Maltese over the Ottoman Empire in the Great Siege. Thanks to this victory, the Knights remained on the island and immediately afterwards began the construction of a new city, Valletta. The Sette Giugnio, on the 7th June 1919, four Maltese were killed during riots in Valletta. As a result of this, the Maltese regained the right to be in charge of their own internal affairs through deputies, who were elected by the people in Parliament. Republic Day, on 13th December, 1974, the Maltese cut off all remaining ties with the United Kingdom with the appointment of a Maltese Head of State by means of Constitutional amendments which made Malta a Republic. Sir Anthony Mamo was elected as Malta’s first President. I n d e p e n d e n c e D ay, 2 1 s t September, 1964 marks the day when Malta obtained its Independence from the United Kingdom. According to the 1964 Constitution, Malta became a parliamentary democracy under the Commonwealth thereby taking responsibility for the direction and control of its national affairs and international relations, through a Cabinet of Ministers led by a Maltese Prime Minister. Freedom Day, 31st March, 1979. The contract permitting the British to use Malta as a military base expired and the last members of the armed forces based in Malta left. 10
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