Marjanu Vella
Encyclopedia
Marjanu Vella was a poet
born in Tas-Sliema, Malta
on the 14 December 1927. His primary education
was taken at Stella Maris College
, a private school
, then for his secondary studies attended the Malta Lyceum. He obtained the Matriculation Certificate
in Maltese
and Italian
. At the age of 18 he entered the Franciscan Order in Malta and eventually was ordained Priest in August 1952.
The first sign of his future career began when he was still a young student at the Lyceum in 1941. There he wrote his first poem. Fr. Marjanu wrote also prose and other poems which were published in "Lehen il-Malti". Other poems were published in an anthology edited by Professor Guze Aquilina. Between 1952-1964 he published eight biographies. Many of them had their second print.
In 1958 he published his first book of poems entitled "Gizimin ahmar" (Red Jasmine). This served as a textbook
for state and private schools. In 1969 followed his second publication of poems called "Dghajjes tal-karti" (Paper boats). His poetic career continued in 1975 by the publication of a series of poems named "Hitan tas-sejjieh" (Countryside Walls) which merited him the Rotmans 1975 Prize and was chosen as the test book for the Matriculation exam. His fourth book of poems has the name "Gargir mall-Herza" (wild herb with a kerb). In September 1984 the Maltese Literature Academy acknowledged his contributions and was accepted as a member. His last volume of poems was "Qoffa rih" (A Basket of wind) which was published in 1985. His poems and prose were published in various magazines.
In 1985 Vella wrote and published an "Oratorjo Madonna tas-Sacro Cuor" (Oratorio Our Lady of the Sacred Heart)and another one "Demm fuq il-Verna" (Blood on mount Alvernia) which both were put to music by Professor Joseph Vella and were performed on different occasions. These two oratorio
s together with other poems and sonnets, that were written during his stay in hospital,were published after his demise in 1989 with the name "Demm fuq il-Verna" (Blood on mount Alvernia). Quite a good number of his poems were translated in Italian and English
. He died on the 25th of February 1988.
Poet
A poet is a person who writes poetry. A poet's work can be literal, meaning that his work is derived from a specific event, or metaphorical, meaning that his work can take on many meanings and forms. Poets have existed since antiquity, in nearly all languages, and have produced works that vary...
born in Tas-Sliema, Malta
Malta
Malta , officially known as the Republic of Malta , is a Southern European country consisting of an archipelago situated in the centre of the Mediterranean, south of Sicily, east of Tunisia and north of Libya, with Gibraltar to the west and Alexandria to the east.Malta covers just over in...
on the 14 December 1927. His primary education
Primary education
A primary school is an institution in which children receive the first stage of compulsory education known as primary or elementary education. Primary school is the preferred term in the United Kingdom and many Commonwealth Nations, and in most publications of the United Nations Educational,...
was taken at Stella Maris College
Stella Maris College
Stella Maris College may also refer to:* Stella Maris College in Sydney, Australia* Stella Maris College in Chennai, India* Stella Maris College in Hyogo, Japan* Stella Maris College , Malta...
, a private school
Private school
Private schools, also known as independent schools or nonstate schools, are not administered by local, state or national governments; thus, they retain the right to select their students and are funded in whole or in part by charging their students' tuition, rather than relying on mandatory...
, then for his secondary studies attended the Malta Lyceum. He obtained the Matriculation Certificate
Matriculation Certificate
The Matriculation Certificate is a certificate awarded to post secondary students and the admission requirement of the University of Malta. It is based on the premise that students seeking admission to University are more likely to develop into mature persons if their education spans both the...
in Maltese
Maltese language
Maltese is the national language of Malta, and a co-official language of the country alongside English,while also serving as an official language of the European Union, the only Semitic language so distinguished. Maltese is descended from Siculo-Arabic...
and Italian
Italian language
Italian is a Romance language spoken mainly in Europe: Italy, Switzerland, San Marino, Vatican City, by minorities in Malta, Monaco, Croatia, Slovenia, France, Libya, Eritrea, and Somalia, and by immigrant communities in the Americas and Australia...
. At the age of 18 he entered the Franciscan Order in Malta and eventually was ordained Priest in August 1952.
The first sign of his future career began when he was still a young student at the Lyceum in 1941. There he wrote his first poem. Fr. Marjanu wrote also prose and other poems which were published in "Lehen il-Malti". Other poems were published in an anthology edited by Professor Guze Aquilina. Between 1952-1964 he published eight biographies. Many of them had their second print.
In 1958 he published his first book of poems entitled "Gizimin ahmar" (Red Jasmine). This served as a textbook
Textbook
A textbook or coursebook is a manual of instruction in any branch of study. Textbooks are produced according to the demands of educational institutions...
for state and private schools. In 1969 followed his second publication of poems called "Dghajjes tal-karti" (Paper boats). His poetic career continued in 1975 by the publication of a series of poems named "Hitan tas-sejjieh" (Countryside Walls) which merited him the Rotmans 1975 Prize and was chosen as the test book for the Matriculation exam. His fourth book of poems has the name "Gargir mall-Herza" (wild herb with a kerb). In September 1984 the Maltese Literature Academy acknowledged his contributions and was accepted as a member. His last volume of poems was "Qoffa rih" (A Basket of wind) which was published in 1985. His poems and prose were published in various magazines.
In 1985 Vella wrote and published an "Oratorjo Madonna tas-Sacro Cuor" (Oratorio Our Lady of the Sacred Heart)and another one "Demm fuq il-Verna" (Blood on mount Alvernia) which both were put to music by Professor Joseph Vella and were performed on different occasions. These two oratorio
Oratorio
An oratorio is a large musical composition including an orchestra, a choir, and soloists. Like an opera, an oratorio includes the use of a choir, soloists, an ensemble, various distinguishable characters, and arias...
s together with other poems and sonnets, that were written during his stay in hospital,were published after his demise in 1989 with the name "Demm fuq il-Verna" (Blood on mount Alvernia). Quite a good number of his poems were translated in Italian and English
English language
English is a West Germanic language that arose in the Anglo-Saxon kingdoms of England and spread into what was to become south-east Scotland under the influence of the Anglian medieval kingdom of Northumbria...
. He died on the 25th of February 1988.