Benigno Zerafa

Benigno Zerafa (1726–1804) was a Maltese composer. He studied first under the maestro di capella at St. Paul's Cathedral, Mdina, Pietro Gristi, then and then by Girolamo Abos^[1] at the Conservatorio dei Poveri di Gesù Cristo in Naples from 1738. He himself was appointed maestro di capella at Mdina Cathedral in 1744 till 1787 when he retired the position being succeeded by his assistant Francesco Azopardi. 83 substantial sacred compositions, survive at Mdina Cathedral.^[2][3]

Recordings:

• Confitebor Tölzer Knabenchor, SM 1997

References

1. Joseph Vella Bondin edition of Girolamo Abos, Stabat Mater: p.xv 2003 "Among the students to whom Abos taught either singing or composition or both were composers Antonio Boroni, Giacomo Tritto, Giovanni Paisiello, Piccinni, Giacomo Insanguine, Benigno Zerafa, Domenico Fischietti, Johann Georg Lang"
2. Aquilina, F. A short biography of Benigno Zerafa. Eighteenth Century Music (2007), 4: 107-118 "Zerafa’s entire collection of sacred vocal works, with one exception, was discovered in 1969 by the then-curator of the Archives of Mdina, Mgr Rev John Azzopardi. The collection, comprising, among others, masses, Credo settings, psalms, graduals, offertories, litanies, hymns, sequences, antiphons, Holy Week responsories and motets, was transferred to the archives of the cathedral, where it was professionally catalogued and shelved. One work, a recently discovered Requiem Mass for four voices and organ, is preserved in the Archivio Crypta Sancti Pauli (CSP) at Rabat. The compositions, numbering 148, are divided into two categories – (1) for voices and instruments (104), and (2) for voices and organ (44) – and range, in scoring, from works for eight, five, four, three and two voices, to others for solo voice. "
3. Benigno Zerafa Heighes S. in ed. Gwann Galea Masters of Maltese baroque music - 2002