In the Parish Church of Tarxien stands what is probably the oldest organ preserved in a parish church in the Maltese Islands. This instrument is a remarkable example of Sicilian Baroque organ building, constructed in 1747 by Annibale Lo Bianco of Messina, an organ builder renowned in his time for the excellence of his craftsmanship.

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The organ contains 388 pipes arranged into nine stops, played from a 45-note manual keyboard and an 8-note pedalboard. Its action is entirely mechanical, with the keyboard and pedalboard directly connected to the valves beneath the pipes. This arrangement provides the organist with a highly responsive touch.

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Over the centuries, the organ underwent various repairs and alterations, during which several original components were lost. Fortunately, almost all of the pipes, the very soul of the instrument, survived intact. This provided a reliable foundation upon which the restorer could faithfully recover the organ’s original sound.

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Among the most significant alterations discovered were those made to the bellows, which were originally located outside the organ case and were of a completely different design from those found during the restoration. The pedalboard had also been replaced with a 12-note version, whereas the original instrument had 8 notes, forming a short-octave. As a consequence, the pedal wind chest, pedal pipes, and associated mechanism had to be reconstructed using the surviving remnants of the original components. Additional modifications were found in the console area, where the keyboard, stop knobs, and parts of the organ case had been extensively altered.

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One particularly interesting feature of this organ is that the stops are engaged by pushing the stop knobs inward rather than pulling them outward, as is more commonly seen today. This characteristic reflects the period in which the instrument was built, when some organs still operated in this manner.

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The true highlight of this organ lies in the development of its tonal structure. Although modest in size and delicate in character, the instrument is remarkably effective in filling the church with sound, making it suitable for a wide variety of liturgical and musical occasions. Particularly noteworthy is the Flauto in Ottava stop, a delicate register with a distinctive tone that beautifully imitates the sound of a flute, a characteristic feature of organs of this type.

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The organ is housed within an elaborate Baroque case which was originally finished only with oil. Over time, however, it was painted in various colours to match the changing decorative schemes of the church.

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A true jewel of Malta’s cultural and musical heritage, this organ will continue to serve as an important historical reference for future generations while delighting all who hear its unique voice.