This miniature sheet marks an important milestone in our country's history - that of the centenary of the first performance of the national anthem of Malta - L-Innu Malti. Then known as the Hymn of Malta, it was written in the form of a prayer by Dun Karm Psaila and set to music by Robert Samut.
Both lyricist and composer were well known personalities on the Island. Carmelo Psaila, better known as Dun Karm (b. ¯ebbu1871 - d.1961) was a Maltese priest, writer, and poet, sometimes called 'the Bard of Malta'. He taught at the Archbishop's Seminary, worked at the National Library of Malta and was one of the founding members of the Ghaqda tal-Kittieba tal- Malti. Initially, he wrote only in Italian but he later e penned several popular religious hymns in Maltese. He continued to write prolifically in Maltese, producing works conscious of a Maltese identity of which the Innu Malti is one.
The composer Robert Samut (b. Floriana, 1869 - d. 1934) was a Maltese doctor and musician. He studied medicine at the Royal University of Malta and the University of Edinburgh, where he graduated with an MB ChB, receiving a medal for excelling in anatomy. From his youth he had shown musical inclinations and had wanted to study music, but his father did not approve, and consequently he pursued a career in medicine. Sammut went on to have an illustrious career in the military and also as Professor of Pathology at the Royal University of Malta.
In 1922, Samut had composed a short melody, which was adopted by the Malta Department of Education , as an anthem to be sung by students in Malta's schools. Dun Karm was asked to write lyrics that would fit with Samut's short melody. The hymn was already being sung in December 1922, mostly in government schools. The first time it was heard in public was on 27 December 1922 and again on 6 January 1923, during two concerts at the Manoel Theatre.
The Maltese government declared the hymn as the official Maltese anthem on 22 February 1941. In 1942, it was printed for 'piano e canto' with an English translation by May Butcher. This publication helped spread its popularity. The 1964 Independence Constitution confirmed it as the National Anthem of Malta.
