M3P - User contributions [en]

Steve Borg (folklorist)

2019-05-01T20:08:46Z

SteveBorg: Minor changes

'''Steve Borg''' [[File:Steve Borg.jpg|340px|thumb|right|Steve Borg has done extensive fieldwork in the recovery of Maltese folk music.]] is a folklorist, Maltese language album producer and heritage researcher. He was born on the 24th of April, 1964 at the David Bruce Military Hospital in Imtarfa, and hails from [[Marsaskala]].

His paternal grandfather was Ġużeppi Borg, a school teacher from [[Bormla]] who was known for writing songs, including ''Lil Malta'', ''Karita' ma' Tfajla Għamja'' and ''Il-Fellieħi'', in Maltese.

== Environmental Activism and Cultural Awareness ==

Borg is well known for active stances in defence of the natural environment and our built heritage, the promotion of the Maltese language and the releases of Maltese music albums.

He served as secretary of the ngo Malta Heritage Trust, Fondazzjoni Wirt Artna, especially at Fort Rinella, the Vittoriosa underground shelters and Notre Dame Gate in the 1990s, and takes pride in having saved many historic sites from architectural degradation or demolition, especially in Kalkara, Marsascala and Sliema but also in Valletta, Birgu and Mdina, prior to the establishment of urban conservation areas. He contributed to the drafting of the Heritage Act and the Archives Act, of the Laws of Malta.

He then assisted Greenpeace Mediterranean as a volunteer and activist, in issues relative to urban pollution, drag net and driftnet fishing in the Mediterranean, waste recycling and separation at source.

[[File:Edward Jones melodies.jpg|230px|thumb|left|Borg identified these Maltese melodies within the Marsden collection, at King's College London, in 1999.]]

Appointed secretary of the Friends of the National Archives, where he helped very substantially increase the Reference section in the main reading room by obtaining donations, and the Anthony Valletta ''lepideptora'' bequest to the same institution.

In 2009 he contested the European Parliament elections on behalf of the ''Partit Laburista'' and lobbied in favour of the reduction of air pollution, the protection of biodiversity, inclusive education, improved literacy levels and social housing.

During the campaign he had proposed the creation of cultural routes in Malta, to facilitate the production and access to the performing arts, and the inherent cultural mapping of the country.

== Music Production & Other Publications ==

[[File:Steve Borg b'żigarella.jpg|220px|thumb|right|Steve Borg retrieving folk music recordings in 2012.]] Borg has produced and presented three television series on National Malta Television, pioneered in world music programmes on Radju Bronja, Malta's cultural radio, having probably Malta's largest collection of world music. He was active with Politeatru's productions of works by Chekhov, O'Neill and others.

In 2000 he co-founded Malta's then leading modern folk band [[Etnika]], after having identified Malta's oldest known folk melodies at King's College University in London. Borg and Etnika won the Malta Music Award for Cultural Achievement in 2001. He featured on the 20c stamp on Maltese old traditional instruments, issued by Maltapost issued in August 2001. He has also identified a collection of old Slovenian documents, which he officially handed over to the Slovenian Archives in Ljubljana in 2005.

Borg was an anchor in the docu-film ''Etnika: in search of a Lost Voice'', shown in several film festivals around Europe in 2004 and was interviewed by several foreign broadcasting companies, including Deutsche Welle and film actor Elliott Cowan in relation to his contribution to Maltese folk music.

In 2006 he edited [[Ruben Zahra]]'s ''A guide to Maltese folk music'', that was awarded Best Production for a non-Maltese language Book in 2007 by the National Book Council. In November 2010 Klabb Kotba Maltin published ''L-Alkemista'', his translation into Maltese of Paulo Coelho's masterwork O Alquimista, which was shortlisted for Best Translation in Maltese. His translation was read by Manuel Cauchi for Radio 101 in summer of 2013.

In April 2014, the Prime Minister Dr. Joseph Muscat launched J.J. Camilleri's autobiography ''Malta li Għext Fiha'', that was edited and annotated by Borg. During his work on this publication, Borg sifted through over five thousand pages of documents, that were held by the late Camilleri, and he identified the first Maltese alphabet as formulated by the [[Għaqda tal-Kittieba tal-Malti]] and presented to the Maltese Government in 1921. It had, since then, been misplaced. All the material was presented by Borg and Camilleri's sons to the National Archives in January 2014.

In November 2014, Klabb Kotba Maltin published ''Il-Moħba'', Borg's translation in Maltese of Trezza Azzopardi's Booker Prize's shortlisted book ''The Hiding Place''. He is working on several other publications in Maltese, including a forthcoming book entitled ''It-Tfal tal-Eroj''.

[[File:Taqbila 23.jpg|270px|thumb|left|Dominic Galea, Simone Attard, Steve Borg and Kor Mirabitur, December 2012.]] Borg managed Malta's acclaimed singer-songwriter [[Walter Micallef]] and his modern folk sextet Walter Micallef u l-Ħbieb, and produced ''M'Jien Xejn'' (I am Nothing) in 2003 and ''Ħamsin'' (Fifty) in 2007, and organized numerous gigs and concerts around Malta.

In 2009 he produced another Maltese language album, entitled ''Ommi'' (Mother), featuring [[Doreen Galea]] as vocalist, melodies by [[Dominic Galea]] and involving 14 seasoned musicians, including [[Ġorġ Puse Curmi]], [[Sammy Murgo]], [[Pawlu Borg]] and [[Walter Vella]].

In 2013 he co-produced the album ''Taqbila'' with composer Dominic Galea, which included seventeen children's songs from the pre-war period, some recovered from his fieldwork. The songs were sung by [[Kor Mirabitur]], under the direction of [[Simone Attard]] to the arrangements made by Dominic Galea.

[[File:1555329 646764415386985 31350206 n.jpg|270px|thumb|left|Addressing the guests during the launch of Corazon Mizzi's ''Hawn Jien'', University of Malta, January 2014.]] In January 2014 leading vocalist [[Corazon Mizzi]] launched her eleven-track release ''Hawn Jien'' (Here I Am) at Temi Zammit Hall, University of Malta, an album that was also produced by Borg. He also announced that he shall only produce two other albums, one entitled ''Diwja'' together with [[Dominic Galea]] and [[Walter Micallef]]'s third album.

== Recovering and Preserving Maltese Folk Music ==
In 2013 he brokered a very important and unique bequest made by Dr. [[Karl Partridge]] and Professor [[Frank Jeal]] concerning traditional Maltese folk instruments, including the żaqq, photographs and field material to the National Archives of Malta. This included audio recordings with the last nine żaqq folk musicians, made between 1971-1973 and the acquisition of two żaqq chanters, possible the oldest in existence.

[[File:SBP 4726.jpg|340px|thumb|right|Addressing the invitees during the bequest of Maltese folk instruments at the National Archives, May 2013.]] Borg is currently recovering other folk music material, in his quest to enhance Malta's collective memory and its dispersed intangible heritage.

He was also instrumental in identifying and recovering a substantial collection of over 500 hours of master Maltese folk singing open reel tapes from the 1960s. This is the Leli Muscat Collection, featuring over forty seven folksingers, which he purchased on behalf of the Friends of the National Archives on Easter Sunday 2013.

In the summer of 2013 he interviewed most of the active folksingers and opened nearly one hundred and fifty pages on the M3P site, making it the largest online database of Maltese ''għana''.

He has also written ethnographic publications, based on a fourteen-year research conducted through oral testimonies on the Maltese people, with the first volume entitled Il-Maltin: għemilhom, drawwiethom, ġrajjiethom: l-ewwel volum, published in 2017 by Klabb Kotba Maltin. It was shortlisted for the Book of the Year Award by the National Book Council. The second volume was launched in November 2018 and has also been submitted for the Book of the Year Award. He is currently researching the final volume of his trilogy.

[[File:Steve Borg interviewing Joe Vella l-Bokser August 2013.jpg|220px|thumb|left|Interviewing folksinger Joe Vella l-Bokser in Żejtun, August 2013.]]

Borg is a graduate of the University of Malta, the University of Northumbria and has acquired his PhD with the University of Hull. He was the addressee of a written message sent to the People of Malta, by Tenzin Gyatso, His Holiness the Dalai Lama of Tibet, on the eve of a new millennium.

Borg remains committed in his quest to protect, recover and curate the threatened or dispersed heritage of the Maltese people.

==External Links==

* [http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=xMVWAGGCsTg Trailer of docu-drama film Etnika: In search of a Lost Voice 2004].
* [http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=j7oO4WKUxyc Public lecture on Maltese għana, Żejtun 2011].
* [http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=w1kovUj_uvg Public lecture on Maltese għana, Żejtun 2011].
* [http://www.timesofmalta.com/articles/view/20130510/local/-aqq-to-the-future.469094 Times of Malta interview ''Żaqq to the future'' 10th May 2013].
* [http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=4QC9c7T_U40 ''Taqbila'' album release feature on One News June 2013].
* [http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=dXZ8PoW1BXk Demo of ''Hawn Jien'' album 2014].
* [http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=LA3aFEVqoE8&feature=youtu.be Interview regarding Il-Moħba November 2014].
* [http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=852eoN0Bud0 Interview with Sergio Grech on Xi Qrajt dan l-Aħħar? Il-Maltin].

==See also==
[[:Category:Steve Borg Photos]]

{{DEFAULTSORT:Borg, Steve}}

[[Category:A-Z of the Malta Music Scene]]
[[Category:Born in 1964]]
[[Category:Folk Music Promoters]]

Steve Borg (folklorist)

2018-10-24T09:41:20Z

SteveBorg:

'''Steve Borg''' [[File:Steve Borg.jpg|340px|thumb|right|Steve Borg has done extensive fieldwork in the recovery of Maltese folk music.]] is a folklorist, Maltese language album producer and heritage researcher. He was born on the 24th of April, 1964 at the David Bruce Military Hospital in Imtarfa, and hails from [[Marsaskala]].

His paternal grandfather was Ġużeppi Borg, a school teacher from [[Bormla]] who was known for writing songs, including ''Lil Malta'', ''Karita' ma' Tfajla Għamja'' and ''Il-Fellieħi'', in Maltese.

== Environmental Activism and Cultural Awareness ==

Borg is well known for active stances in defence of the natural environment and our built heritage, the promotion of the Maltese language and the releases of Maltese music albums.

He served as secretary of the ngo Malta Heritage Trust, Fondazzjoni Wirt Artna, especially at Fort Rinella, the Vittoriosa underground shelters and Notre Dame Gate in the 1990s, and takes pride in having saved many historic sites from architectural degradation or demolition, especially in Kalkara, Marsascala and Sliema but also in Valletta, Birgu and Mdina, prior to the establishment of urban conservation areas. He contributed to the drafting of the Heritage Act and the Archives Act, of the Laws of Malta.

He then assisted Greenpeace Mediterranean as a volunteer and activist, in issues relative to urban pollution, drag net and driftnet fishing in the Mediterranean, waste recycling and separation at source.

[[File:Edward Jones melodies.jpg|230px|thumb|left|Borg identified these Maltese melodies within the Marsden collection, at King's College London, in 1999.]]

Appointed secretary of the Friends of the National Archives, where he helped very substantially increase the Reference section in the main reading room by obtaining donations, and the Anthony Valletta ''lepideptora'' bequest to the same institution.

In 2009 he contested the European Parliament elections on behalf of the ''Partit Laburista'' and lobbied in favour of the reduction of air pollution, the protection of biodiversity, inclusive education, improved literacy levels and social housing.

During the campaign he had proposed the creation of cultural routes in Malta, to facilitate the production and access to the performing arts, and the inherent cultural mapping of the country.

== Music Production & Other Publications ==

[[File:Steve Borg b'żigarella.jpg|220px|thumb|right|Steve Borg retrieving folk music recordings in 2012.]] Borg has produced and presented three television series on National Malta Television, pioneered in world music programmes on Radju Bronja, Malta's cultural radio, having probably Malta's largest collection of world music. He was active with Politeatru's productions of works by Chekhov, O'Neill and others.

In 2000 he co-founded Malta's then leading modern folk band [[Etnika]], after having identified Malta's oldest known folk melodies at King's College University in London. Borg and Etnika won the Malta Music Award for Cultural Achievement in 2001. He featured on the 20c stamp on Maltese old traditional instruments, issued by Maltapost issued in August 2001. He has also identified a collection of old Slovenian documents, which he officially handed over to the Slovenian Archives in Ljubljana in 2005.

Borg was an anchor in the docu-film ''Etnika: in search of a Lost Voice'', shown in several film festivals around Europe in 2004 and was interviewed by several foreign broadcasting companies, including Deutsche Welle and film actor Elliott Cowan in relation to his contribution to Maltese folk music.

In 2006 he edited [[Ruben Zahra]]'s ''A guide to Maltese folk music'', that was awarded Best Production for a non-Maltese language Book in 2007 by the National Book Council. In November 2010 Klabb Kotba Maltin published ''L-Alkemista'', his translation into Maltese of Paulo Coelho's masterwork O Alquimista, which was shortlisted for Best Translation in Maltese. His translation was read by Manuel Cauchi for Radio 101 in summer of 2013.

In April 2014, the Prime Minister Dr. Joseph Muscat launched J.J. Camilleri's autobiography ''Malta li Għext Fiha'', that was edited and annotated by Borg. During his work on this publication, Borg sifted through over five thousand pages of documents, that were held by the late Camilleri, and he identified the first Maltese alphabet as formulated by the [[Għaqda tal-Kittieba tal-Malti]] and presented to the Maltese Government in 1921. It had, since then, been misplaced. All the material was presented by Borg and Camilleri's sons to the National Archives in January 2014.

In November 2014, Klabb Kotba Maltin published ''Il-Moħba'', Borg's translation in Maltese of Trezza Azzopardi's Booker Prize's shortlisted book ''The Hiding Place''. He is working on several other publications in Maltese, including a forthcoming book entitled ''It-Tfal tal-Eroj''.

[[File:Taqbila 23.jpg|270px|thumb|left|Dominic Galea, Simone Attard, Steve Borg and Kor Mirabitur, December 2012.]] Borg managed Malta's acclaimed singer-songwriter [[Walter Micallef]] and his modern folk sextet Walter Micallef u l-Ħbieb, and produced ''M'Jien Xejn'' (I am Nothing) in 2003 and ''Ħamsin'' (Fifty) in 2007, and organized numerous gigs and concerts around Malta.

In 2009 he produced another Maltese language album, entitled ''Ommi'' (Mother), featuring [[Doreen Galea]] as vocalist, melodies by [[Dominic Galea]] and involving 14 seasoned musicians, including [[Ġorġ Puse Curmi]], [[Sammy Murgo]], [[Pawlu Borg]] and [[Walter Vella]].

In 2013 he co-produced the album ''Taqbila'' with composer Dominic Galea, which included seventeen children's songs from the pre-war period, some recovered from his fieldwork. The songs were sung by [[Kor Mirabitur]], under the direction of [[Simone Attard]] to the arrangements made by Dominic Galea.

[[File:1555329 646764415386985 31350206 n.jpg|270px|thumb|left|Addressing the guests during the launch of Corazon Mizzi's ''Hawn Jien'', University of Malta, January 2014.]] In January 2014 leading vocalist [[Corazon Mizzi]] launched her eleven-track release ''Hawn Jien'' (Here I Am) at Temi Zammit Hall, University of Malta, an album that was also produced by Borg. He also announced that he shall only produce two other albums, one entitled ''Diwja'' together with [[Dominic Galea]] and [[Walter Micallef]]'s third album.

== Recovering and Preserving Maltese Folk Music ==
In 2013 he brokered a very important and unique bequest made by Dr. [[Karl Partridge]] and Professor [[Frank Jeal]] concerning traditional Maltese folk instruments, including the żaqq, photographs and field material to the National Archives of Malta. This included audio recordings with the last nine żaqq folk musicians, made between 1971-1973 and the acquisition of two żaqq chanters, possible the oldest in existence.

[[File:SBP 4726.jpg|340px|thumb|right|Addressing the invitees during the bequest of Maltese folk instruments at the National Archives, May 2013.]] Borg is currently recovering other folk music material, in his quest to enhance Malta's collective memory and its dispersed intangible heritage.

He was also instrumental in identifying and recovering a substantial collection of over 500 hours of master Maltese folk singing open reel tapes from the 1960s. This is the Leli Muscat Collection, featuring over forty seven folksingers, which he purchased on behalf of the Friends of the National Archives on Easter Sunday 2013.

In the summer of 2013 he interviewed most of the active folksingers and opened nearly one hundred and fifty pages on the M3P site, making it the largest online database of Maltese ''għana''.

He has also written ethnographic publications, based on a fourteen-year research conducted through oral testimonies on the Maltese people, with the first volume entitled Il-Maltin: għemilhom, drawwiethom, ġrajjiethom: l-ewwel volum, published in 2017 by Klabb Kotba Maltin. It has been shortlisted for the Book of the Year Award by the National Book Council. The second volume shall be launched in November 2018.

[[File:Steve Borg interviewing Joe Vella l-Bokser August 2013.jpg|220px|thumb|left|Interviewing folksinger Joe Vella l-Bokser in Żejtun, August 2013.]]

Borg is a graduate of the University of Malta, the University of Northumbria and is currently pursing his academic studies with the University of Hull. He was the addressee of a written message sent to the People of Malta, by Tenzin Gyatso, His Holiness the Dalai Lama of Tibet, on the eve of a new millennium.

Borg remains committed in his quest to protect, recover and curate the threatened or dispersed heritage of the Maltese people.

==External Links==

* [http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=xMVWAGGCsTg Trailer of docu-drama film Etnika: In search of a Lost Voice 2004].
* [http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=j7oO4WKUxyc Public lecture on Maltese għana, Żejtun 2011].
* [http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=w1kovUj_uvg Public lecture on Maltese għana, Żejtun 2011].
* [http://www.timesofmalta.com/articles/view/20130510/local/-aqq-to-the-future.469094 Times of Malta interview ''Żaqq to the future'' 10th May 2013].
* [http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=4QC9c7T_U40 ''Taqbila'' album release feature on One News June 2013].
* [http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=dXZ8PoW1BXk Demo of ''Hawn Jien'' album 2014].
* [http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=LA3aFEVqoE8&feature=youtu.be Interview regarding Il-Moħba November 2014].
* [http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=852eoN0Bud0 Interview with Sergio Grech on Xi Qrajt dan l-Aħħar? Il-Maltin].

==See also==
[[:Category:Steve Borg Photos]]

{{DEFAULTSORT:Borg, Steve}}

[[Category:A-Z of the Malta Music Scene]]
[[Category:Born in 1964]]
[[Category:Folk Music Promoters]]

Steve Borg (folklorist)

2018-10-24T09:36:21Z

SteveBorg:

'''Steve Borg''' [[File:Steve Borg.jpg|340px|thumb|right|Steve Borg has done extensive fieldwork in the recovery of Maltese folk music.]] is a folklorist, Maltese language album producer and heritage researcher. He was born on the 24th of April, 1964 at the David Bruce Military Hospital in Imtarfa, and hails from [[Marsaskala]].

His paternal grandfather was Ġużeppi Borg, a school teacher from [[Bormla]] who was known for writing songs, including ''Lil Malta'', ''Karita' ma' Tfajla Għamja'' and ''Il-Fellieħi'', in Maltese.

== Environmental Activism and Cultural Awareness ==

Borg is well known for active stances in defence of the natural environment and our built heritage, the promotion of the Maltese language and the releases of Maltese music albums.

He served as secretary of the ngo Malta Heritage Trust, Fondazzjoni Wirt Artna, especially at Fort Rinella, the Vittoriosa underground shelters and Notre Dame Gate in the 1990s, and takes pride in having saved many historic sites from architectural degradation or demolition, especially in Kalkara, Marsascala and Sliema but also in Valletta, Birgu and Mdina, prior to the establishment of urban conservation areas. He contributed to the drafting of the Heritage Act and the Archives Act, of the Laws of Malta.

He then assisted Greenpeace Mediterranean as a volunteer and activist, in issues relative to urban pollution, drag net and driftnet fishing in the Mediterranean, waste recycling and separation at source.

[[File:Edward Jones melodies.jpg|230px|thumb|left|Borg identified these Maltese melodies within the Marsden collection, at King's College London, in 1999.]]

Appointed secretary of the Friends of the National Archives, where he helped very substantially increase the Reference section in the main reading room by obtaining donations, and the Anthony Valletta ''lepideptora'' bequest to the same institution.

In 2009 he contested the European Parliament elections on behalf of the ''Partit Laburista'' and lobbied in favour of the reduction of air pollution, the protection of biodiversity, inclusive education, improved literacy levels and social housing.

During the campaign he had proposed the creation of cultural routes in Malta, to facilitate the production and access to the performing arts, and the inherent cultural mapping of the country.

== Music Production & Other Publications ==

[[File:Steve Borg b'żigarella.jpg|220px|thumb|right|Steve Borg retrieving folk music recordings in 2012.]] Borg has produced and presented three television series on National Malta Television, pioneered in world music programmes on Radju Bronja, Malta's cultural radio, having probably Malta's largest collection of world music. He was active with Politeatru's productions of works by Chekhov, O'Neill and others.

In 2000 he co-founded Malta's then leading modern folk band [[Etnika]], after having identified Malta's oldest known folk melodies at King's College University in London. Borg and Etnika won the Malta Music Award for Cultural Achievement in 2001. He featured on the 20c stamp on Maltese old traditional instruments, issued by Maltapost issued in August 2001. He has also identified a collection of old Slovenian documents, which he officially handed over to the Slovenian Archives in Ljubljana in 2005.

Borg was an anchor in the docu-film ''Etnika: in search of a Lost Voice'', shown in several film festivals around Europe in 2004 and was interviewed by several foreign broadcasting companies, including Deutsche Welle and film actor Elliott Cowan in relation to his contribution to Maltese folk music.

In 2006 he edited [[Ruben Zahra]]'s ''A guide to Maltese folk music'', that was awarded Best Production for a non-Maltese language Book in 2007 by the National Book Council. In November 2010 Klabb Kotba Maltin published ''L-Alkemista'', his translation into Maltese of Paulo Coelho's masterwork O Alquimista, which was shortlisted for Best Translation in Maltese. His translation was read by Manuel Cauchi for Radio 101 in summer of 2013.

In April 2014, the Prime Minister Dr. Joseph Muscat launched J.J. Camilleri's autobiography ''Malta li Għext Fiha'', that was edited and annotated by Borg. During his work on this publication, Borg sifted through over five thousand pages of documents, that were held by the late Camilleri, and he identified the first Maltese alphabet as formulated by the [[Għaqda tal-Kittieba tal-Malti]] and presented to the Maltese Government in 1921. It had, since then, been misplaced. All the material was presented by Borg and Camilleri's sons to the National Archives in January 2014.

In November 2014, Klabb Kotba Maltin published ''Il-Moħba'', Borg's translation in Maltese of Trezza Azzopardi's Booker Prize's shortlisted book ''The Hiding Place''. He is working on several other publications in Maltese, including a forthcoming book entitled ''It-Tfal tal-Eroj''.

[[File:Taqbila 23.jpg|270px|thumb|left|Dominic Galea, Simone Attard, Steve Borg and Kor Mirabitur, December 2012.]] Borg managed Malta's acclaimed singer-songwriter [[Walter Micallef]] and his modern folk sextet Walter Micallef u l-Ħbieb, and produced ''M'Jien Xejn'' (I am Nothing) in 2003 and ''Ħamsin'' (Fifty) in 2007, and organized numerous gigs and concerts around Malta.

In 2009 he produced another Maltese language album, entitled ''Ommi'' (Mother), featuring [[Doreen Galea]] as vocalist, melodies by [[Dominic Galea]] and involving 14 seasoned musicians, including [[Ġorġ Puse Curmi]], [[Sammy Murgo]], [[Pawlu Borg]] and [[Walter Vella]].

In 2013 he co-produced the album ''Taqbila'' with composer Dominic Galea, which included seventeen children's songs from the pre-war period, some recovered from his fieldwork. The songs were sung by [[Kor Mirabitur]], under the direction of [[Simone Attard]] to the arrangements made by Dominic Galea.

[[File:1555329 646764415386985 31350206 n.jpg|270px|thumb|left|Addressing the guests during the launch of Corazon Mizzi's ''Hawn Jien'', University of Malta, January 2014.]] In January 2014 leading vocalist [[Corazon Mizzi]] launched her eleven-track release ''Hawn Jien'' (Here I Am) at Temi Zammit Hall, University of Malta, an album that was also produced by Borg. He also announced that he shall only produce two other albums, one entitled ''Diwja'' together with [[Dominic Galea]] and [[Walter Micallef]]'s third album.

== Recovering and Preserving Maltese Folk Music ==
In 2013 he brokered a very important and unique bequest made by Dr. [[Karl Partridge]] and Professor [[Frank Jeal]] concerning traditional Maltese folk instruments, including the żaqq, photographs and field material to the National Archives of Malta. This included audio recordings with the last nine żaqq folk musicians, made between 1971-1973 and the acquisition of two żaqq chanters, possible the oldest in existence.

[[File:SBP 4726.jpg|340px|thumb|right|Addressing the invitees during the bequest of Maltese folk instruments at the National Archives, May 2013.]] Borg is currently recovering other folk music material, in his quest to enhance Malta's collective memory and its dispersed intangible heritage.

He was also instrumental in identifying and recovering a substantial collection of over 500 hours of master Maltese folk singing open reel tapes from the 1960s. This is the Leli Muscat Collection, featuring over forty seven folksingers, which he purchased on behalf of the Friends of the National Archives on Easter Sunday 2013.

In the summer of 2013 he interviewed most of the active folksingers and opened nearly one hundred and fifty pages on the M3P site, making it the largest online database of Maltese ''għana''.

He has also written ethnographic publications, based on a fourteen-year research conducted through oral testimonies on the Maltese people, with the first volume entitled Il-Maltin: għemilhom, drawwiethom, ġrajjiethom: l-ewwel volum, published in 2017 by Klabb Kotba Maltin. It has been shortlisted for the Book of the Year Award by the National Book Council. The second volume shall be launched in November 2018.

[[File:Steve Borg interviewing Joe Vella l-Bokser August 2013.jpg|220px|thumb|left|Interviewing folksinger Joe Vella l-Bokser in Żejtun, August 2013.]]

Borg is a graduate of the University of Malta, the University of Northumbria and is currently pursing his academic studies with the University of Hull. He was the addressee of a written message sent to the People of Malta, by Tenzin Gyatso, His Holiness the Dalai Lama of Tibet, on the eve of a new millennium.

Borg remains committed in his quest to protect, recover and curate the threatened or dispersed heritage of the Maltese people.

==External Links==

* [http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=xMVWAGGCsTg Trailer of docu-drama film Etnika: In search of a Lost Voice 2004].
* [http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=j7oO4WKUxyc Public lecture on Maltese għana, Żejtun 2011].
* [http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=w1kovUj_uvg Public lecture on Maltese għana, Żejtun 2011].
* [http://www.timesofmalta.com/articles/view/20130510/local/-aqq-to-the-future.469094 Times of Malta interview ''Żaqq to the future'' 10th May 2013].
* [http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=4QC9c7T_U40 ''Taqbila'' album release feature on One News June 2013].
* [http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=dXZ8PoW1BXk Demo of ''Hawn Jien'' album 2014].
* [http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=LA3aFEVqoE8&feature=youtu.be Interview regarding Il-Moħba November 2014].

==See also==
[[:Category:Steve Borg Photos]]

{{DEFAULTSORT:Borg, Steve}}

[[Category:A-Z of the Malta Music Scene]]
[[Category:Born in 1964]]
[[Category:Folk Music Promoters]]

Anthony Piscopo

2017-10-04T11:06:23Z

SteveBorg: Removed from category Folk Music Promoter

'''Anthony Piscopo''' ( - 6 December 2010) was a Maltese folk artist.

{{DEFAULTSORT:Piscopo, Anthony}}
[[Category:Died in 2010]]

Pawlu Seychell l-Għannej

2017-10-04T10:20:34Z

SteveBorg: Classified as a biography

'''Pawlu Seychell Il-Għannej''' [[File:Pawlu Seychell Il-Għannej.JPG|340px|thumb|right|Pawlu Seychell l-Għannej.]] (1907-1992) was one of Malta's foremost folksingers. Hence his nickname, the folksinger. He was born in Żejtun on the 10th February 1907. He began singing from the tender age of seven.

During his lifelong career in folk singing, he sang with the prime performers of his time, although he struck a special relationship with [[Ninu Galea l-Kalora]]. His preferred genre was the improvised verse, although he also sang some ballads.

A native of Żejtun, Seychell managed a wine shop in Msida, the venue of so many għana sessions. He also penned lyrics of ballads, which were printed as chapbooks by Universal Press of Msida Road, Gżira. One particular ballad, ''Delitt Waħxi fuq Anton Aquilina'', concerned the murder of Toni Aquilina in Valletta on the 23 August 1960.

In 2007, [[Mikiel Cutajar Is-Superstar]] sung a ballad in honour of Seychell, on the occasion of the centenary of his birth in Żejtun. This is considered as one of Cutajar's foremost rendition of a ballad, due to his heartfelt performance about a most revered folksinger from his hometown.

==External Links==

*http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=E4Zv89b8ezs Ballad in honour of Pawlu Seychell

{{DEFAULTSORT:Seychell,Pawlu l-Għannej}}

[[Category:A-Z of the Malta Music Scene]]
[[Category:Singers from Malta]]
[[Category:Għannejja]]
[[Category:Died in 1992]]
[[Category:Born in 1907]]

Jason Seguna n-Nekus

2017-10-04T10:18:10Z

SteveBorg: Classified as a stub

{{stub}}

'''Jason Seguna n-Nekus''' [[File:Jason Seguna In-Nekus Marsaxlokk 5 ta' Lulju 2013.jpg|340px|thumb|right|Jason Seguna n-Nekus]] was born on 5th November 1972. He hails from Żebbuġ, Malta and is know for singing the improvised verse model.

His favourite folksingers are [[Ninu Galea l-Kalora]] and [[Żaren Mifsud ta' Vestru]]. A regular performer at Għanafest, Seguna was also secretary of the folksinger's society ''Kadenzi'', founded by [[Ġorġ Mifsud Chircop]]. In 2003, he sung these verses at the New Year's Bar in Żebbuġ.

''U lil Mabbli għidtlu dalgħodu
Lilu ħadt ma jtih raġun
Żaru qed jaqbeż għal Mabbli
Għandu jkun iġibulu sħun.''

Seguna has folk-sung in Gibellina and Rome in Italy, together with [[Ċikku Degiorgio tal-Fjuri]] during a Mediterranean folk music festival.

===External Links===

*[http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=vLHrHEfeJ80 Ta' Ġustu, Qormi, 2013.]
*[http://www.haz-zebbug.com/inte_jason_seguna.php Interview on Ħaż-Żebbuġ.com]
*[http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=2Z1qlvu68ZI&feature=player_embedded Footage shot at Wiġi Il-Landier wine shop]

{{DEFAULTSORT:Seguna,Jason n-Nekus}}

[[Category:A-Z of the Malta Music Scene]]
[[Category:Singers from Malta]]
[[Category:Għannejja]]
[[Category:Born in 1972]]
[[Category:Folk Music Promoters]]

Lorry Schembri ta' Ġanna

2017-10-04T10:14:26Z

SteveBorg: Classified as a stub

{{stub}}

'''Lorry Schembri ta' Ġanna''' [[File:Lorry Schembri ta' Ġanna Jan 2014 Brooklyn Bar Żejtun.jpg|310px|thumb|right|Lorry Schembri ta' Ġanna folksinging in Żejtun, January 2014.]] is an improvised verse folk singer. He was born in 1964 and hails from [[Żejtun]]. Schembri is not a line-up performer but folk sings with enthusiasts when the publicized sessions are over, in what is termed as ''l-għana tal-aħħar''.

He also runs the famous [[Ta' Ġanna]] bar in Żejtun, which is a regular place for folk singing, during some weekdays and on Sunday mornings.

==External Links==

* [http://www.timesofmalta.com/articles/view/20130408/local/Six-year-old-g-ana-singer-shows-extraordinary-talent.464660 Visit by Parliamentary Secretary for Culture Dr. Jose' Herrera at Ta' Ġanna, April 2013.]

{{DEFAULTSORT:Schembri,Lorry ta' Ġanna}}

[[Category:A-Z of the Malta Music Scene]]
[[Category:Singers from Malta]]
[[Category:Born in 1964]]
[[Category:Għannejja]]
[[Category:Folk Music Promoters]]

Fredu Psaila t-Tiġieġu

2016-08-16T20:20:13Z

SteveBorg:

{{stub}}

'''Fredu Psaila t-Tiġieġu''' was an improvised verse folk singer from Żabbar.

{{DEFAULTSORT:Psaila,Fredu, t-Tiġieġu}}

[[Category:A-Z of the Malta Music Scene]]
[[Category:Singers from Malta]]
[[Category:Għannejja]]

Fredu Psaila t-Tiġieġu

2016-08-16T20:17:32Z

SteveBorg: Created page with "Fredu Psaila t-Tiġieġu"

Fredu Psaila t-Tiġieġu

Ġanni Calleja n-Nejba

2016-08-16T20:15:29Z

SteveBorg:

{{stub}}

'''Ġanni Calleja n-Nejba''' was an improvised verse folk singer from [[Birkirkara]]. He is recorded folk singing with [[Pawlu Barbara Tal-Boroż]] in Buskett in 1957 and with [[Ġużeppi Xuereb Ix-Xudi]] during an interview by folklorist [[Ġuzé Cassar Pullicino]].

{{DEFAULTSORT:Calleja,Ġanni,n-Nejba}}

[[Category:A-Z of the Malta Music Scene]]
[[Category:Singers from Malta]]
[[Category:Għannejja]]

Ġanni Calleja n-Nejba

2016-08-16T20:13:53Z

SteveBorg:

{{stub}}

'''Ġanni Calleja n-Nejba''' was an improvised verse folk singer from [[Birkirkara]]. He is recorded folk singing with [[Pawlu Barbara Tal-Boroż]] in Buskett in 1957 and with [[Ġużeppi Xuereb Ix-Xudi]] during an interview by folklorist [[Ġuże Cassar Pullicino]].

{{DEFAULTSORT:Calleja,Ġanni,n-Nejba}}

[[Category:A-Z of the Malta Music Scene]]
[[Category:Singers from Malta]]
[[Category:Għannejja]]

Ġanni Calleja n-Nejba

2016-08-16T20:12:46Z

SteveBorg: Addition of text to stub of improvised verse folksinger Ganni Calleja n-Nejba

{{stub}}

'''Ġanni Calleja n-Nejba''' was an improvised verse folk singer from [[Birkirkara]]. He is recorded folk singing with [[Pawlu Barbara Tal-Boroż]] in Buskett in 1957 and with [[Ġużeppi Xuereb x-Xudi]] during an interview by folklorist [[Ġuże Cassar Pullicino]].

{{DEFAULTSORT:Calleja,Ġanni,n-Nejba}}

[[Category:A-Z of the Malta Music Scene]]
[[Category:Singers from Malta]]
[[Category:Għannejja]]

Ġanni Calleja n-Nejba

2016-08-16T20:07:00Z

SteveBorg: Created page with "Ġanni Calleja n-Nejba"

Ġanni Calleja n-Nejba

Pawlu Barbara Tal-Boroż

2016-08-16T20:03:54Z

SteveBorg: Creating a page for improvised verse folksinger Pawlu Barbara Tal-Boroz

{{stub}}

'''Pawlu Barbara Tal-Boroż''' was an improvised verse folk singer from [[Żejtun]]. He passed away in the 1960s. He is recorded folk singing with [[Ġanni Calleja n-Nejba]] in Buskett in 1957.

{{DEFAULTSORT:Barbara,Pawlu, Tal-Boroż}}

[[Category:A-Z of the Malta Music Scene]]
[[Category:Singers from Malta]]
[[Category:Għannejja]]

Pawlu Barbara Tal-Boroż

2016-08-16T19:57:55Z

SteveBorg: Created page with "Pawlu Barbara Tal-Boroż"

Pawlu Barbara Tal-Boroż

Mikiel Bonnici l-Grems

2016-08-16T19:11:32Z

SteveBorg: Creation of a stub for high-pitched folk singer Mikiel Bonnici l-Grems

{{stub}}

'''Mikiel Bonnici l-Grems''' was a high-pitched folk singer from Zejtun. He passed away in the 1980s.

{{DEFAULTSORT:Bonnici,Mikiel, l-Grems}}

[[Category:A-Z of the Malta Music Scene]]
[[Category:Singers from Malta]]
[[Category:Għannejja]]

Mikiel Bonnici l-Grems

2016-08-16T19:08:51Z

SteveBorg: Created page with "Mikiel Bonnici l-Grems"

Mikiel Bonnici l-Grems

Xandru Barbara l-Gergereż

2016-08-16T19:06:14Z

SteveBorg: Creation of a stub for high-pitched folk singer Xandru Barbara l-Gergereż

{{stub}}

'''Xandru Barbara l-Gergereż''' was a high-pitched folk singer from Zejtun. He passed away in the 1970s.

{{DEFAULTSORT:Barbara,Xandru, l-Gergereż}}

[[Category:A-Z of the Malta Music Scene]]
[[Category:Singers from Malta]]
[[Category:Għannejja]]

Xandru Barbara l-Gergereż

2016-08-16T19:03:04Z

SteveBorg: Created page with "Xandru Barbara l-Gergereż"

Xandru Barbara l-Gergereż

Karmena Caruana tal-Butna

2016-08-16T19:00:37Z

SteveBorg:

{{stub}}

'''Karmena Caruana tal-Butna''' was a high-pitched folk singer from Zejtun. She was born in 1917.

{{DEFAULTSORT:Caruana,Karmena, tal-Butna}}

[[Category:A-Z of the Malta Music Scene]]
[[Category:Singers from Malta]]
[[Category:Għannejja]]
[[Category:Born in 1917]]

Karmena Caruana tal-Butna

2016-08-16T18:57:13Z

SteveBorg: Creation of a stub for folk singer Karmena Caruana tal-Butna

Karmena Caruana tal-Butna

Fredu Abela ż-Żejtuni

2016-08-16T18:56:01Z

SteveBorg:

'''Fredu Abela ż-Żejtuni''' [[File:Fredu Abela Iż-Żejtuni.jpg|340px|thumb|right|Fredu Abela ż-Żejtuni]] is a known and respected folksinger from [[Żejtun]], born on the 16th October 1940. He started folk singing in 1958, quite by coincidence.

It was on the eve of a general strike in April, when Abela, together with some friends who folk-sung, including [[Karmena Caruana tal-Butna]] and [[Ċikku Iz-Zanin]] went to St Thomas Bay, to while the evening away, knowing that the next day the country would be at a standstill.

He claims that ''għana'' is a gift from God, and is a talent that one is born with it within his spirit.

His favourite folksinger is [[Pawlu Seychell l-Għannej]], with whom he has sung a cadence, that has now become part of folk legend, at the Pandora Theatre in Żejtun together with [[Mikiel Abela l-Bambinu]] and [[Żaren Mangion Il-Folfol]].

Abela has sung in many venues in Melbourne, Sydney and Adelaide, on the five times he has visited Australia over a span of thirty years.

==External Links==

* [http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=rECeXMf2ZD0 Performing in Sydney in 2006.]
* [http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=yFvdwnwreDo Cadence sung in honour of Pawlu Seychell.]
* [http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=IDAdCO7qFmM Folk music event at Babet Bar in Żurrieq, January 2014.]

{{DEFAULTSORT:Abela,Fredu ż-Żejtuni}}

[[Category:A-Z of the Malta Music Scene]]
[[Category:Singers from Malta]]
[[Category:Għannejja]]
[[Category:Born in 1940]]

Wiġi Cassar l-Pewx

2016-08-16T18:53:13Z

SteveBorg: Additional text to stub of high-pitched folk singer Wiġi Cassar l-Pewx

{{stub}}

'''Wiġi Cassar l-Pewx''' was a high-pitched folk singer from Qormi. He passed away in the 1980s.

{{DEFAULTSORT:Cassar,Wiġi, l-Pewx}}

[[Category:A-Z of the Malta Music Scene]]
[[Category:Singers from Malta]]
[[Category:Għannejja]]

Wiġi Cassar l-Pewx

2016-08-16T18:47:55Z

SteveBorg: Creation of a stub for high-pitched folk singer Wiġi Cassar l-Pewx

Wiġi Cassar l-Pewx

Ronaldo Cutajar tas-Superstar

2016-08-16T18:43:04Z

SteveBorg: Addition of external link to improvised verse folk singer Ronaldo Cutajar tas-Superstar

{{stub}}

'''Ronaldo Cutajar tas-Superstar''' is an up and coming improvised verse folk singer. He is the son of [[Mikiel Cutajar Is-Superstar]]. Cutajar is very active on the local folk singing circuit, and is one of the brightest prospects of folk singing.

==External Links==

* [http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=yGn1Uj9VTL4 Folk music event at Marsa Regatta Club, 6th December 2013.]

{{DEFAULTSORT:Cutajar,Ronaldo,tas-Superstar}}

[[Category:A-Z of the Malta Music Scene]]
[[Category:Singers from Malta]]
[[Category:Għannejja]]

Ronaldo Cutajar tas-Superstar

2016-08-16T18:37:25Z

SteveBorg:

{{stub}}

'''Ronaldo Cutajar tas-Superstar''' is an up and coming improvised verse folk singer. He is the son of [[Mikiel Cutajar Is-Superstar]]. Cutajar is very active on the local folk singing circuit, and is one of the brightest prospects of folk singing.

==External Links==

* [http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=iMAJp7CYHaA Singing the high pitched model.]

{{DEFAULTSORT:Cutajar,Ronaldo,tas-Superstar}}

[[Category:A-Z of the Malta Music Scene]]
[[Category:Singers from Malta]]
[[Category:Għannejja]]

Ronaldo Cutajar tas-Superstar

2016-08-16T18:35:39Z

SteveBorg: Additional text to improvised verse folk singer Ronaldo Cutajar tas-Superstar

{{stub}}

'''Ronaldo Cutajar tas-Superstar''' is an up and coming improvised verse folk singer. He is the son of [[Mikiel Cutajar Is-Superstar]]. Cutajar is very active on the local folk singing circuit, and is one of the brightest prospects of folk singing.

{{DEFAULTSORT:Cutajar,Ronaldo,tas-Superstar}}

[[Category:A-Z of the Malta Music Scene]]
[[Category:Singers from Malta]]
[[Category:Għannejja]]

Ronaldo Cutajar tas-Superstar

2016-08-16T18:26:42Z

SteveBorg: Creating a page for improvised verse folksinger Ronaldo Cutajar tas-Superstar

Ronaldo Cutajar tas-Superstar

Ninu Camilleri l-Qannebusu

2016-08-16T16:09:12Z

SteveBorg:

{{stub}}

'''Ninu Camilleri l-Qannebusu''' was an improvised verse folk singer. He is no longer active.

{{DEFAULTSORT:Camilleri,Ninu, l-Qannebusu}}

[[Category:A-Z of the Malta Music Scene]]
[[Category:Singers from Malta]]
[[Category:Għannejja]]

Ninu Camilleri l-Qannebusu

2016-08-16T15:57:29Z

SteveBorg:

{{stub}}

'''Ġanni Scicluna n-Naħħu''' was an improvised verse folk singer. He is from [[Żabbar]] and no longer active.

{{DEFAULTSORT:Camilleri,Ninu, l-Qannebusu}}

[[Category:A-Z of the Malta Music Scene]]
[[Category:Singers from Malta]]
[[Category:Għannejja]]

Ninu Camilleri l-Qannebusu

2016-08-16T15:02:53Z

SteveBorg: Created page with "Ninu Camilleri l-Qannebusu"

Ninu Camilleri l-Qannebusu

Ġanni Scicluna n-Naħħu

2016-08-16T15:01:18Z

SteveBorg: Creation of a stub for improvised verse folksinger Ġanni Scicluna n-Naħħu

{{stub}}

'''Ġanni Scicluna n-Naħħu''' was an improvised verse folk singer. He is from [[Żabbar]] and no longer active.

{{DEFAULTSORT:Scicluna,Ġanni, n-Naħħu}}

[[Category:A-Z of the Malta Music Scene]]
[[Category:Singers from Malta]]
[[Category:Għannejja]]

Ionut Mifsud ta' Vestru

2016-08-15T11:15:54Z

SteveBorg:

{{stub}}

'''Ionut Mifsud ta' Vestru''' [[File:Ionut Mifsud ta' Vestru.jpg|330px|thumb|right|Folk guitarist Ionut Mifsud ta' Vestru]] is a young folk music guitarist from [[Żejtun]]. His father is folk singer [[Frans Mifsud ta' Vestru]].

[[Category:A-Z of the Malta Music Scene]]
[[Category:Daqqaqa]]

Fredu Grech l-Irixx

2016-08-15T11:15:14Z

SteveBorg:

{{stub}}

'''Fredu Grech l-Irixx''' [[File:Fredu Grech l-Irixx 6 Awissu 2013.jpg|300px|thumb|right|Fredu Grech l-Irixx.]] is a well known veteran folk music guitarist. He was born and bred in Tarxien, but later on moved to Il-Belt il-Ġdida, known also as Albertown. He was one who encouraged [[Salvu Pace s-Sulari]] to take to folksinging.

==External Links==

*http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=4daFKFy1WpU Performing at Żejt iż-Żejtun August 2012

[[Category:A-Z of the Malta Music Scene]]
[[Category:Daqqaqa]]

Frankie Zammit tal-Krikk

2016-08-15T11:13:34Z

SteveBorg:

{{stub}}

'''Frankie Zammit tal-Krikk''' [[File:Frankie Zammit Tal-Grekk.jpg|330px|thumb|right|Frankie Zammit tal-Krikk.]] is a folk music guitarist. He hails from Qormi. He is related to high-pitched folk singer [[Frans Azzopardi ż-Żott]].

==External Links==

[[Category:A-Z of the Malta Music Scene]]
[[Category:Daqqaqa]]

Frans Azzopardi ż-Żott

2016-08-15T05:45:36Z

SteveBorg:

'''Frans Azzopardi ż-Żott''' [[File:Frans Azzopardi Iż-Żott.jpg|500px|thumb|right|Frans Azzopardi ż-Żott]] was born on the 8th January 1953 and hails from Qormi. He started singing at the age of 27, and is one of the few folk singers who practices the high-pitched model ''La Bormliża''. He started folk singing in 1973 at the Shooter's Club in the parish of San Ġorġ in Qormi, with [[Wiġi Cassar Il-Pewx]].

Amongst the sessions he sung, Azzopardi recalls the event which grouped him with [[Fredu Micallef Il-Kampjun]], [[Salvu Cassar Il-Ħamra]] and [[Ġuzeppi Cesare s-Santuċċi]] held in Siġġiewi.

In June 2013, he participated in Għanafest together with [[Ċensu Carabott Il-Bukku]]. He is resourceful and has a clear and melodic voice and he prefers the melisma form, known as ''għana bit-tkaxkira, għana bil-ksur''.

Some folk enthusiasts refer to him as ''tal-kappell'', since he is always seen sporting a hat at the għana events he attends. Although he has rarely performed in folk singing events, with the right encouragement, he has the potential to become an esteemed folksinger through his very own merits. His cousin is Qormi born [[Kalċidon Zammit ta' Redew]], who later emigrated to Australia.

[[File:Vince Cumbo tal-Iżgej u Frans Azzopardi Iż-Żott.jpg|340px|thumb|left|Frans Azzopardi ż-Żott and Vince Cumbo tal-Iżgej in Żejtun, August 2013.]]

Folk singing remains in his family's veins, with two of his cousins children being young folksinger [[Gabriel Briffa ż-Żeżin]] and folk guitarist [[Frankie Zammit tal-Krikk]]. It is unknown if reel recordings of his folk singing existed in circulation among għana followers. However recent recordings featuring Azzopardi have been uploaded on Youtube.com

Azzopardi runs the Klabb tal-Boċċi San Ġorġ in Qormi, where he hosts folk music events.

==External Links==

* [http://www.facebook.com/frans.azzopardizott?fref=ts Facebook page]
* [http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=TOhUWAy_ZLo Frans Azzopardi ż-Żott at Pretoria Bar Tarxien 2013.]

{{DEFAULTSORT:Azzopardi,Frans ż-Żott}}

[[Category:A-Z of the Malta Music Scene]]
[[Category:Singers from Malta]]
[[Category:Għannejja]]
[[Category:Born in 1953]]
[[Category:Folk Music Promoters]]

Ġużeppi Xuereb Ix-Xudi

2016-08-15T05:32:18Z

SteveBorg:

{{stub}}

'''Ġużeppi Xuereb Ix-Xudi''' is one of the most renowned folksingers of all time. Born in Birkirkara, he passed away in the 1950s.

He featured prominently on shellac records in the early Thirties.

Most of his early recordings have been digitally restored by [[Andrew Alamango]] of [[Filfla Records]] and released in digital format.

==External Links==
* [http://filflarecordsmusic.bandcamp.com/track/acc-bil-chitarri-min-c-cardona-u-g-azzopardi Featuring Ġużeppi x-Xudi and Tonina Sammut Filfla Records].

{{DEFAULTSORT:Xuereb,Ġużeppi Ix-Xudi}}

[[Category:A-Z of the Malta Music Scene]]
[[Category:Singers from Malta]]
[[Category:Għannejja]]

Toni Spiteri tal-Ġebel

2016-08-15T05:18:34Z

SteveBorg:

'''Toni Spiteri tal-Ġebel''' [[File:Toni Spiteri Tal-Ġebel 5 ta' Lulju 2013.jpg|380px|thumb|right|Toni Spiteri tal-Ġebel]]was born on the 1 November 1987, and hails from Birkirkara. His great-grandfather Ġużeppi Spiteri was originally from Xewkija, Gozo but moved to Malta in the pre-war period.

Once here he opened a limestone quarry in Tal-Balal and another new limestone quarry at Is-Sejba in Imqabba, hence the nickname ''Tal-Ġebel'', literally meaning ''Of the Stones''. Toni's grandfather, also called Toni, used to folksing amongst friends, whereas his grandmother Ċetta, from Birkirkara was known for her improvised verse, if only sung in the backyard.

Toni Jr started folk singing at six, when he entered an improvised bout, ''botta u risposta'' with Karmenu Spiteri ''Il-Pupu'', who was employed to clean and feed the livestock and fowl at their farm, and Toni Jr improvised a wounding song about Karmenu's female friend, who bought him bread and milk.

He was spotted at this tender age for his folksinging talent by [[Frans Baldacchino l-Budaj]], one day when on his way to mass. It was here where he met Toni's father and invited him to send his son over to further develop his folksinging skills. He has the honour of being the only aspiring folksinger that was coached by ''il-Budaj''.

[[File:Toni tal-Ġebel u l-Budaj.png|290px|thumb|right|Frans Baldacchino l-Budaj and Toni Spiteri tal-Ġebel]]

Baldacchino took Toni under his wings and introduced him to modern folk grupp [[Etnika]] and to folksing in several churches around Malta. With the sudden demise of Baldacchino in 2006, Toni abruptly stopped folksinging, only to reappear in a summer event in Qormi in 2012, with later appearances in Marsaxlokk.

During [[Għanafest]] 2013 he sang the ballad ''Kundanna u Mrar'', with thirty stanzas, written for Toni by Frans Baldacchino l-Budaj about an incident that occurred in Madrid. He remains grateful to Frans ''Il-Budaj'', who nurtured his love for ''għana'' and whom he considers are his favourite folksinger of all. The other two favourites are [[Ġużeppi Xuereb Ix-Xudi]], for his impressive voice and rhyming abilities and [[Karmnu Fenech Il-Ħandrolla]].

Toni explains his respect for ''Il-Ħandrolla'' with a succinct analogy. ''He reminds me of Death on Judgement Day, since he treats all folksingers the same, without giving any kind favours by being lenient with friends, and hard with others. For him all folksingers are equal, not necessarily in singing level, but in honouring them for who they are. And I like that attitude and his words.''

Toni is today considered as one of the future stalwarts to keep this tradition alive. His sister [[Maria Spiteri Tal-Ġebel]] has also given to ''għana'' and performed at the Mnarja Folk Fest in 2013. He is currently preparing to embark on folk ballad writing.

[[File:Toni Spiteri Tal-Ġebel 21 September 2012 Marsaxlokk.jpg|300px|thumb|left|Toni Spiteri tal-Ġebel (extreme right), flanked by Etienne Pawney In-Naxxari and Fredu Abela ż-Żejtuni in Marsaxlokk, September 2012]].

==External Links==

* [http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=2Ejhs_tjLZ4&feature=share Event at Marsaxlokk Waterpolo Club, 21 September 2012].
* [http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=8QfuGwBDMAQ&feature=share Performing at Ta' Ġanna Bar, Żejtun, July 2013].

{{DEFAULTSORT:Spiteri,Toni tal-Ġebel}}

[[Category:A-Z of the Malta Music Scene]]
[[Category:Singers from Malta]]
[[Category:Għannejja]]
[[Category:Born in 1987]]

Leli Mercieca s-Simenża

2016-08-15T04:45:20Z

SteveBorg:

{{stub}}

'''Leli Mercieca s-Simenża''' also known as ''Manwel is-Simenża'', was a noted folksinger from [[Tarxien]]. He also featured on vinyl and some of his most renowned songs were ''Tifħir Lil Malta'' and ''Il-Velenu ta' Ċerti Nisa''. Mercieca passed away in the 1980s.

==External Links==

{{DEFAULTSORT:Mercieca,Leli s-Simenża}}

[[Category:A-Z of the Malta Music Scene]]
[[Category:Singers from Malta]]
[[Category:Għannejja]]

Ninu Gatt Ir-Rajsu

2016-08-15T04:29:16Z

SteveBorg: Text amendment for folksinger Ninu Gatt Ir-Rajsu

'''Ninu Gatt Ir-Rajsu''' [[File:Ninu Gatt Ir-Rajsu.jpg|340px|thumb|right|Ninu Gatt Ir-Rajsu.]] is a renowned improvised verse folk singer. He was born on the 20th February 1947 and hails from [[Żebbuġ]]. He grew up in Triq l-Anġli, close to the Angels' Chapel where his parents, both from Żebbuġ lived. His father was from the ''Tal-Lekkuku'' family, his mother from ''Tar-Randan''.

He is quite unsure about the real origin of his nickname Ir-Rajsu, but remembers that he was called so when still a child by his grandmother, upset that he had just walked on her wet floor. Hence she exclaimed ''Qisek ir-rajsu tgħaffeġ'', which literally translates 'You walk across the floors just like a captain.' derived from the Maltese word 'rajjes', a captain or leader.

Gatt didn't have any relatives who folksang, nor was be brought up following ''għana''. He was aware that Żebbuġ ħad [[Leli Cilia ta' Żabett]] and [[Mabbli Abela In-Nugex]], who had featured on shellac records.

His personal connection with folk music started by pure coincidence. As a young twenty-year old he didn't own a car, but one of his friends from Żebbuġ did. When the weekends came, it happened that he was constantly outnumbered three to one by his friends who opted to go down to Żejtun to attend to a folk music session, rather than frequent the bright lights of Valletta, the capital.

These were the late 1960s when a folk session in Żejtun at venues like Ġolin Ta' Kostanza, Menu Abela or [[Żaren Mangion Il-Folfol]] would have featured the cream of improvised verse folksingers, [[Pawlu Seychell l-Għannej]], [[Ninu Galea l-Kalora]], [[Pawlu Degabriele l-Bies]], [[Żaru Mifsud Il-Għaxqi]] and [[Salvu Darmanin Ir-Ruġel]]. It is a line up that young folk enthusiasts can only dream of.

On one occasion Ninu and his friend visited Żejtun their regular dose of ''għana'', only to discover that the event had been cancelled due to the town being in mourning. There and then they headed off to Għar Lapsi for a traditional rabbit meal, where fuelled with Maltese wine downed with the meal they started folk singing, albeit without guitar music.

This was the moment that Gatt realized that he had folk music within him, where with more wine helpings his improvised verse improved and he shed his inhibitions. The next day, his friends called on him, impressed by his capacity to folk sing.

Around 1973 there happened to be a folk music event at their local Labour Party club and as soon as the folksingers where gathering to begin, one of Ninu's friends approached [[Ninu Galea l-Kalora]] and told him ''Here's a good folk singer'', while pointing at Gatt.

Kalora called him over to join the assembled four, including [[Żeppi Ellul ta' Fellusu]], [[Żeppi Meli ta' Sika]] and [[Pawlu Seychell l-Għannej]]. In ''għana'' terms this meant that the session now had an uneven number, which was quite a rare occurrence that happened usually when someone didn't turn up. There was an additional risk, that of trying an untried singer. Yet Kalora knew that the enthusiast that had urged him to take notice was a known face at folk events and therefore a good ear as well.

[[File:Ninu Gatt Ir-Rajsu going through a folk ballad 4 Sept 2013.jpg|310px|thumb|left|Ninu Gatt Ir-Rajsu going through the verses of his folk ballad ''It-Tsunami''.]] He did well and was asked for other events, until Pawlu Seychell l-Għannej, knowing that Gatt resided in Żejtun, invited him to folk sing on Rediffusion, with his group of chosen folksingers. The sessions were probably re-recorded on by other programmes, the norm adopted by the Maltese radio management who had no clue or little respect of archiving purposes.

He did several Rediffusion sessions and on television, including one ''spirtu pront bejn tnejn'' shot on Għar Lapsi cave with [[Ċikku Degiorgio tal-Fjuri]] in programmes hosted by Charles Coleiro.

Gatt has two favourite folksingers from the golden age of ''għana'' - Ninu Galea l-Kalora and Żeppi Meli ta' Sika. Galea had the ability to keep to the subject being sung about, knew how to build on the argument but stayed clean, attributes of making him a complete folksinger.

Gatt has his favourite folk ballads, the famous ''Ġuzeppi u Maria'' by Żaren Mifsud ta' Vestru and Pawlu Seychell l-Għannej's ballad about a boy who was murdered by his own cousin in Żabbar. However, Gatt has also one folk ballad to his credit, which he wrote about the tsunami that his Asia on Boxing Day, 2004. It is called ''It-Tsunami'' and has thirty-six quatrains with a duration of around forty minutes. It was performed once, in Qormi at Il-Giża's and recorded on video.

He was one of the performers in the famous session known as ''Tar-Rużarju'', featuring [[Mikiel Cutajar Is-Superstar]], [[Karmnu Fenech Il-Ħandrolla]] and [[Żeppi Meli ta' Sika]], when he was paired with the latter.

Gatt is not keen on big stages for folk events, but prefers the intimacy that small venues offer, where the performer and enthusiast are within close quarters.

Having folk sung within the circle of the major folksingers, he is one of the most renowned folksingers who are currently inactive, although his interest in ''għana'' has been rekindled with his presence in the audience at folk music events. Enthusiasts keenly awaited his return to the field in 2013.

==External Links==

* [http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=hAJsAqOqGFo Featuring Ninu Gatt at the Partit Laburista, Żejtun].

{{DEFAULTSORT:Gatt,Ninu Ir-Rajsu}}

[[Category:A-Z of the Malta Music Scene]]
[[Category:Singers from Malta]]
[[Category:Għannejja]]
[[Category:Born in 1947]]

Joe Fenech l-Għasfur

2016-08-15T04:13:07Z

SteveBorg:

{{stub}}

'''Joe Fenech l-Għasfur''' is an improvised folk singer. He hails from [[Marsa]] and is currently inactive. Fenech deserves more merit for his folksinging abilities. He has folk sung in the more demanding version of improvised verse, featuring only two folksingers, with [[Fredu Micallef Il-Kampjun]]. Considered as having one of the most harmonious voices in ''għana'', he passed away at a relatively young age.

Efforts should be made to acquire more recordings of Fenech for the expanding folk singing collection in the national memory project at the National Archives of Malta.

==External Links==

* [http://soundcloud.com/charlie-mangion-iz-zubina/fredu-l-kampjun-u-joe-l/s-jzZT3 Featuring Joe Fenech l-Għasfur and Fredu Micallef Il-Kampjun, n.d.]

{{DEFAULTSORT:Fenech,Joe l-Għasfur}}

[[Category:A-Z of the Malta Music Scene]]
[[Category:Singers from Malta]]
[[Category:Għannejja]]

Żeppi Ellul ta' Fellusu

2016-08-15T04:06:59Z

SteveBorg:

'''Żeppi Ellul ta' Fellusu''' [[File:Żeppi Ellul Ta' Fellusu.jpg|380px|thumb|right|Żeppi Ellul ta' Fellusu.]], also known as ''Iż-Żebbuġi'' is a noted and highly-respected folk singer from Żebbuġ, Malta. He was born on the 6th February 1945 to Żaru l-Koppi and Karmena ta' Fellusa.

Although his father is from Kirkop, Żeppi was born and bred in Żebbug and thus has taken the nickname of his mother’s family. His day time occupation is that of a master builder, which he emphasises is different from that of a bricklayer.
Born in a family of nine boys and two girls, he has another brother [[Żaren Ellul ta' Fellusu]], who also folk sings. His mother Karmena folk sang ''l-għana tal-banju''.

He was brought up in an għana environment through his father Żaru, who from the age of five, took him to the annual folk feast of Imnarja on the 28th June in the small wood of Buskett to listen to the likes of [[Pawlu Seychell l-Għannej]], [[Żeppi Buttigieg In-Najs]] and [[Mikiel Abela l-Bambinu]]. He recalls that during his time the government elementary school, when he was still a seven year-old, his teacher used to ask him to folk sing in class, standing behind his wooden desk.

His first improvised verse bout with the established folksingers was in April 1968, when he was paired with [[Leli Mifsud Is-Surġent]], at Karmni Aguis ta’ Wistin’s wine shop in Marsa. The other folksingers in the bout were [[Pawlu Seychell l-Għannej]] and [[Ninu Galea l-Kalora]]. At 23, Ellul was chosen to be in Ninu Galea l-Kalora’s group of folksingers that were recorded for the Rediffusion programme broadcasted on Sunday mornings.

Towards the end of the millenium he folk sang at Ġużeppi ż-Żibġi’s Friend’s Bar in Siġġiewi together with [[Ninu Camilleri l-Qannebusu]], a quarry operator, in one of the latter’s few public performances, before he abruptly withdrew from the scene. This was a pity since Il-Qannebusu was already considered as being a very worthy folksinger with a lifetime of sessions before him.
[[File:Żeppi Ellul ta' Fellusu u Fredu Grech tal-Irixx.jpg|280px|thumb|left|Żeppi Ellul ta' Fellusu and veteran guitarist Fredu Grech l-Irixx.]]

Ellul has written and folk sung four ballads, three of which, namely ‘’It-Tfajla Żebbuġija’’, ‘’It-Tifel Maħruq minn Ommu’’ and ‘’Il-Kaċċatur u l-Bidwija’’ are from the sub-genre ‘’fatt fittizju’’, a fictitious story. One is however based on a true story, entitled ‘’Outsider’’, recalling a horse that raced on the outer perimiter racecourse in Marsa and on asphalted streets. One ballad was performed during [[Għanafest]] 2010.

He has partecipated in two folk music events overseas, one in Paola in the province of Cosenza, Calabria in Italy, where he sang with [[Kalċidon Vella Id-Danny]] and another time in Benghasi, Libya, through an initiative of folklorist [[Ġorġ Mifsud Chircop]].

Żeppi has also folk sang in twenty-minute bout of improvised verse with [[Frans Baldacchino il-Budaj]] at the University of Malta, when the chosen subject was ‘’It-Tfajla Maltija’’ (The Maltese Girl).

Ellul is one of the few active folk singers who has folk sang with the great folksingers of the 1960s and 1970s and has maintained his popularity with the avid listeners of ‘’għana’’. He has had several invites to folk sing for Maltese communities in Australia.

==External Links==

* [http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=GPy88ySh14Q Ħidmet Missierijitna, Mġarr 2010.]
* [http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=XYZft3Z97V4 Performing at Klabb tal-Boċċi San Ġorġ, Qormi March 2013.]

{{DEFAULTSORT:Ellul,Żeppi ta' Fellusu}}

[[Category:A-Z of the Malta Music Scene]]
[[Category:Singers from Malta]]
[[Category:Għannejja]]
[[Category:Born in 1945]]

Mikiel Cutajar Is-Superstar

2016-08-15T04:05:50Z

SteveBorg:

'''Mikiel Cutajar Is-Superstar''' [[File:Mikiel Cutajar Is-Superstar 2 Awissu 2013.jpg|350px|thumb|right|Mikiel Cutajar Is-Superstar.]] also known as ''Kelinu'', is currently one of Malta's foremost folksingers. He was born in Żejtun on the 3rd September 1963.

He folk sang publicly for the first time at the age of nine, in the main square of his hometown Żejtun, together with [[Jesmond Galea tal-Kalora]]. His wife is the grand daughter of renowned folksinger [[Mikiel Abela l-Bambinu]].

Is-Superstar organises various performances in several locations around Malta. These include Ġnien Kottonera in Bormla, Ħal Għaxaq parish square, together with the Santa Marija Band Club and Tarxien parish square, with the Banda tad-Duttrina.

Kelinu is proficient in the three main forms of għana – improvised verse, high pitched and the folk ballad. He has sung with the major folk singers of the older generation such as [[Ninu Galea l-Kalora]] and [[Żeppi Meli ta' Sika]] and his contemporaries, amongst them [[Frans Baldacchino l-Budaj]].

Lining up for the improvised verse model, he regularly groups up with [[Jesmond Galea tal-Kalora]], his son [[Ronaldo Cutajar tas-Superstar]], [[Frans Cachia l-Budaj tas-Siġġiewi]], [[Joe Busuttil Il-Bużu]] and [[Joe Grech ta' Raħal Ġdid]].

Rare Xandir Malta file footage features Kelinu together with his [[Mikiel Abela l-Bambinu]], [[Anġla Mifsud Iċ-Ċalija]] and [[Żaren Mangion Il-Folfol]], all four hailing from Żejtun.

He also accepted several challenges for singing bouts with [[Frans Cassar Il-Bloqq]], including those held at the St. Helen's Band Club in Birkirkara and in Qormi.

Cutajar has also written and sung several folk ballads, including two about prize horses ''Isard du Pont'' and ''Invetro de Burgh'', one in honour of veteran folksinger [[Pawlu Seychell l-Għannej]], another entitled ''It-Tbatija tad-Dinja'' and another poignant one ''It-Traġedja ta' Ħal Għaxaq'', which recalls the fireworks factory explosion in Għaxaq on the 15th February 1970, which left five dead.

[[File:Mikiel Cutajar is-Superstar 2 Diċembru 2012.jpg|330px|thumb|left|Mikiel Cutajar Is-Superstar performing at the Rialto, December 2012.]]

In December 2012, Cutajar released a folk ballad in memory of the former Labour Prime Minister Dom Mintoff, during a folk singing session held at the Rialto in Bormla and in 2013 he released a folk balld in honour of new Labour Prime Minister, Joseph Muscat.

Probably the most travelled ''għannej'' in history, Kelinu has visited Australia five times, his first time being when he was just eighteen. He did improvised verse bouts in Sydney, Melbourne and Adelaide. He sang opposite [[Ġużeppi Camilleri l-Jimmy tal-Fjur]], [[Żaren Attard Il-Bukkaċċ]], [[Leli Sultana l-Moni]] and [[Ġużeppi Azzopardi Ras Il-Bagħal]].

He has also visited Toronto and Detroit twice, where he folk sung with [[Karmnu Xuereb In-Namru]]. He was also invited by the Klabb tal-Maltin in London, where he sang with [[Fredu Abela ż-Żejtuni]].

[[File:Mikiel Cutajar fatt dwar il-Perit Mintoff Diċembru 2012.jpg|240px|thumb|right|Cover of folk ballad on former Labour Prime Minister Dom Mintoff.]]

Folk music enthusiasts fondly remember Kelinu’s improvised verse bouts with three other folk singing greats, [[Karmnu Fenech Il-Ħandrolla]], [[Frans Baldacchino l-Budaj]] and [[Salvu Galea tal-Kalora]] as amongst the most poignant in lyrical content.

==External Links==

* [http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=iMAJp7CYHaA Singing the high pitched model.]
* [http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=KyJMYSxT75A With l-Budaj, Ninu l-Kalora and Żeppi ta' Sika in 1996.]
* [http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=YDQYbJRMJ30 Xandir Malta file footage.]
* [http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=G5qG6Nme0yE Younger Bar, Qormi September 2012.]
* [http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=y_A8zXTFmpw]
* [http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=zNtwbrXagwY Challenge with Frans Il-Bloqq.]

{{DEFAULTSORT:Cutajar,Mikiel Is-Superstar}}

[[Category:A-Z of the Malta Music Scene]]
[[Category:Singers from Malta]]
[[Category:Għannejja]]
[[Category:Born in 1963]]
[[Category:Folk Music Promoters]]

Żaren Ellul ta' Fellusu

2016-08-15T04:04:42Z

SteveBorg:

'''Żaren Ellul ta' Fellusu''' [[File:%C5%BBaren_Ellul_Ta%27_Fellusu.jpg|340px|thumb|right|Żaren Ellul ta' Fellusu.]] is an improvised verse folk singer from Żebbuġ, Malta. He was born on the 7th February 1954 to Żaru l-Koppi from Ħal Kirkop and Karmena ta' Fellusa from Żebbuġ.

Żaren was raised in his mother’s home town, Żebbug and hence he was known with the nickname of his mother’s family. He practices the trade of a stonemason, which he insists is different from that of a bricklayer. (In Maltese we distinguish between ''l-Imgħallem'', who is the senior builder and the rest of the crew, who have to follow his instructions).

Born in a family of nine boys and two girls, he has one other brother [[Żeppi Ellul ta' Fellusu]], aka Żeppi ''ż-Żebbugi'', who also folk sings. His mother Karmena folk sang ''l-għana tal-banju''. This left an impression on young Żaren as well as his older brother by nine years, Żeppi.

He started his folk singing at the age of fifteen, when paired with [[Duminku Sciriha Il-Qerrieda]], also from Żebbug, at the wine shop ran by Leli z-Zagogu in the limits of Ħal Dwin and Ħal Mula, both areas in Żebbuġ. Iz-Zagogu used to record these sessions on open reel, but it is not known if they have survived. Żaren also folk sang with a ten-year old [[Jesmond Galea tal-Kalora]] and with [[Karmnu ċ-Ċiequ]], near Tad-Dawl.

He has never folk sung a ballad, although he likes [[Żaren Mifsud ta' Vestru]] 's ''Ġużeppi u Maria'' and his brother's ''Il-Kaċċatur u l-Bidwija'', which was recorded in 2011.

His favourite folk singer is [[Ninu Galea l-Kalora]] for his ability to maintain the chosen subject in his improvised verse and keep a rhythm and two other favourites are [[Pawlu Degabriele l-Bies]] and [[Salvu Darmanin Ir-Ruġel]].

Ellul believes that the golden years of għana were the Sixties, with the arrival of a crop of talented folk singers, who were literate, in an era when the invasion of Anglo-American pop music on the local airwaves was in its beginnings.

Żaren has reactivated his presence on the għana circuit since 2006, after a hiatus of many years. In the 2013 [[Għanafest]] edition he took part in a nofs għanja bout with his brother Żeppi and is now a regular in folk music events. He is also noted for his wide command and able usage of Semitic words, at times colourful, in his improvised verse.

[[File:Żaren Ellul Ta' Fellusu and brother Żeppi 6 Aug 2013.jpg |310px|thumb|left|Żaren Ellul ta' Fellusu with brother Żeppi at Trust Pub, Żejtun, August 2013.]]

==External Links==

* [http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=GPy88ySh14Q Ħidmet Missierijitna, Mġarr 2010.]
* [http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=dfA8UErOEIo Folk singing in Żejtun, July 2013.]
* [http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=UkwQxxqYhws Folk singing at Trust Pub Żejtun, 2013.]

{{DEFAULTSORT:Ellul,Żaren ta' Fellusu}}

[[Category:A-Z of the Malta Music Scene]]
[[Category:Singers from Malta]]
[[Category:Għannejja]]
[[Category:Born in 1954]]

Leli Ellul Il-Beġiġ

2016-08-15T04:01:47Z

SteveBorg:

'''Leli Ellul Il-Beġiġ''' [[File:Leli Ellul Il-Beġiġ and Fredu Abela Iż-Żejtuni July 2013.jpg|380px|thumb|right|Leli Ellul Il-Beġiġ (r), with doyen folk singer Fredu Abela ż-Żejtuni]] is a a folk singer of improvised verse, born on the 21st December 1963. He hails from Sliema, and is currently it's representative in Maltese folk music.

Ellul became infatuated with ''għana'' in 2003, through quite extraordinary circumstances, having heard several cassette recordings of [[Fredu Abela ż-Żejtuni]], [[Karmnu Fenech Il-Ħandrolla]], [[Mikiel Cutajar Is-Superstar]] and [[Ċikku Degiorgio tal-Fjuri]] at the residence of a Maltese émigré in Woolwich, London.

Il-Ħandrolla's constant analogies, linked to the subject being sung about, have bore an influence on him. Hence, one of Ellul's improvised quatrains ran as:

''Id-dilettant tqanqila jistenna
''Bħal art xotta l-ħniena mis-sema
''Loret int għannej ta' fama
''Jien mhux minn dawk li nħobb nintrema' ''

Ellul began frequenting the folk events that were held at the Sa Maison Boċċi Club, and began folk singing only due to a personal challenge with himself.
[[File:Leli Ellul Il-Beġiġ 26 July 2013.jpg|295px|thumb|left|Leli Ellul Il-Beġiġ folksinging in Żejtun.]]

He had just finished a meal with friends when there was a spontaneous decision to have a singing bout. Names were being prompted and he was bypassed, until he opted to pit himself with [[Frans Mifsud ta' Vestru]], [[Mario Gravina s-Sipa]] and [[Mario Xuereb ta' Gerald]].

Ellul is keen on the ''botta u risposta'' style of improvised verse, rather than tame verses, since this is what keeps the listeners on tenterhooks, eager to relieve the suspense unfolding in this battle of wits.

He also prefers to listen to improvised verse than to folk ballads. For him ''għana'' is the expression of emotions, ''tqanqil'', sung on the code of gentlemanly conduct, which the Maltese term as ''irġulija''. Ellul has even stressed this in his folk singing, when he addressed a fellow folk singer with this stanza:

''La tlabtni se nispjegalek
''Ħabib, lili b'serjeta' ħudni
''It-tlett punti tal-irġulija:
''Prinċipju, kelma u attitudni.''

[[File:Leli Ellul Il-Beġiġ Fredu Desira l-Indjan Joe Vella Il-Bokser Iż-Żejtun 16 t'Awissu 2013.jpg|340px|thumb|left|Fredu Desira l-Indjan with Leli Ellul Il-Beġiġ and Joe Vella l-Bokser in Żejtun, 16 August 2013.]]

Now that Ellul has been doused with the spirit of ''għana'', and is enthusiastic about its current revival and surge in popular interest, one expects frequent presentations poignant with lyrical wit and intensity from the Sliema folk singer, to help establish him in the circuit of active performers.

==External Links==

* [http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=VMwHnJyypsE Folk singing at Brooklyn Bar, Żejtun, July 2013].
* [http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=dfA8UErOEIo Folk singing at Ċentru Laburista, Żejtun, July 2013].
* [http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=03-xq8-uj3Y Folk music event at Ċentru Partit Laburista in Qrendi, 19th January 2014.]

{{DEFAULTSORT:Ellul,Leli l-Beġiġ}}

[[Category:A-Z of the Malta Music Scene]]
[[Category:Singers from Malta]]
[[Category:Għannejja]]
[[Category:Born in 1963]]

Mikiel Cumbo l-Iżgej

2016-08-15T03:41:11Z

SteveBorg: Amendments to hypertextual links for folksinger Mikiel Cumbo l-Iżgej

'''Mikiel Cumbo l-Iżgej''',[[File:Mikiel Cumbo l-Iżgej 5 ta' Lulju 2013 Marsaxlokk.jpg |340px|thumb|right|Mikiel Cumbo l-Iżgej]] born in Żejtun on 25 December 1943, is currently Malta's leading folksinger of the high-pitched model, known as La Bormliża.

His father Ġużeppi was a well-known Żejtun stevedore, who used to transport all kinds of material, with his horse trap, including fresh salt directly from the salt pans in Delimara and l-Imlielaħ in Qawra. Later on he invested in motorized vehicles to transport Gozo fruit and vegetable produce from various berthing points of the Gozo lateen sailing boats.

Other than operating as stevedore, he was also entrusted to recruit gangs of coal-heavers to unload coal and charcoal from the Grand Harbour. This gave Ġużeppi a level of authority and social status in his hometown, as a prospective employer during the years of high unemployment with young men, amongst them budding folksingers, emigrating in swarms to Australia, the United States and Canada.

Although relatively unknown in għana circles, Ġużeppi used to folk sing on improvised verse at [[Ġamri Darmanin l-Ingeriżu]] wine shop in Żejtun, where he was coaxed into singing by his cousin [[Żeppi Buttigieg In-Najs]]. Mikiel Cumbo was being brought up in this folk environment.

== His folk music initiation ==

Mikiel started singing at the age of seven, encouraged by [[Wiġi Spiteri l-Bolbol]], a prim guitarist. Spiteri was given permission to take Mikiel with him to the main folksinging venues at the time, including Indri's and Lucy Casha's wine shops, both in Marsa and three outlets in Valletta, where għana used to be sung - Żeppi Bugeja ''Sdieri'' at Jew's Sally Port, known as Il-Fossa, Pawlu Abela ''Tal-Pitrolju'' in Theatre Street and [[Pullu Formosa Karti]] in the proletariat Due Balli quarter. These five venues are now all closed and folk-singing in Valletta is now on its deathbed.

Mikiel recalls an old quatrain, that he learned from his father, that used to be sung by high-pitched folksingers from Kottonera.

''Bħal ta' Bormla sejjer ingħanni''

''Bħal tal-Isla qiegħed indoqq''

''Meta niftakar fiż-żmien ta' dari''

''L-għaraq għalija jibda jxoqq.''

He took on the high pitched model at the age of twelve, with [[Grezzju Ellul ta' Ċanċa]] at [[Ġolin Axisa ta' Kostanza]]'s wine bar, the venue which Mikiel describes as the honeypot for the foremost folksingers of the time. Despite having performed regularly in all the main events in Malta and Gozo, he trusts that this small wine shop in an unpretentious Żejtun neighbourhood, remains the place that he has cherished the most, and for him signifies the highlight of his singing career.

Other than [[Grezzju Ellul ta' Ċanċa]], the other folksinger who left a lifelong impression on him was ''Karmenu Taċ-Ċiċri'' from Raħal Ġdid. Cumbo frequently partecipates in lesser ones, including those held in Marsaxlokk in August and September 2012 and July 2013.

He is also a keen promoter of għana, having also taken part, together with [[Żeppi Spagnol Il-Kelba]], in a seminar about folksinging organized by Wirt iż-Żejtun and held in Luqa Briffa Gardens in July 2012. He has also sung in Sardinia, Naples and Tunisia, through the efforts of għana's academic promoter [[Ġorġ Mifsud Chircop]].

His son [[Vince Cumbo tal-Iżgej]] organizes several folksinging events that other than exclusively featuring the foremost folksingers, also gives space to aspiring ones and new fledglings, including Nordai Desira.

[[File:Mikiel Cumbo l-Iżgej.JPG|280px|thumb|left|Mikiel Cumbo l-Iżgej singing in the high-pitched model, Marsaxlokk 2012]].

==External sites==

* [http://wirtizzejtun.com/events-held-in-2012/ Mikiel Cumbo during a Wirt iż-Żejtun event]
* http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=eTxDjuOilBI Mikiel L-Iżgej performing in Marsaxlokk

{{DEFAULTSORT:Cumbo,Mikiel l-Iżgej}}

[[Category:A-Z of the Malta Music Scene]]
[[Category:Singers from Malta]]
[[Category:Għannejja]]
[[Category:Born in 1943]]

Leli Cilia ta' Żabett

2016-08-15T03:36:13Z

SteveBorg:

'''Leli Cilia ta' Żabett''' [[File:Leli Cilia ta' Żabbett.jpg|400px|thumb|right|Leli Cilia ta' Żabett.]] was a renowned folk singer. Born on the 14th April 1889, he hailed from Żebbuġ, Malta. His father was Ċikku, his mother Eliżabetta, popularily known as ''Żabett'', hence his nickname.

Contemporary enthusiasts refer to him as a folk singer who sang written songs, and not one who was known for his improvised verse, perhaps the most telling model. Cilia was enlisted as a soldier with the Maltese medical corps, based at Fort St. Elmo.

He was known for his folk singing, perhaps an adversary of [[Ġużeppi Xuereb Ix-Xudi]], and in June 1931 and August 1932 he was contracted by HMV to record folk recordings on shellac records, the 78rpm known as ''diski tal-faħam'' in Milan, Italy.

Amongst his famous releases there is the ballad ''Arturo u Maria'', registered in an abridged version due to recording technicalities. The shellac recordings were re-released in digital format by Andrew Alamango on the 28th November 2010.

Cilia passed away in June 1967, at the age of 78.

==External Links==

* [http://filflarecordsmusic.bandcamp.com/track/emmanuele-cilia Part One of Arturo and Maria digital re-release by Filfla Records].

{{DEFAULTSORT:Cilia,Leli ta' Żabett}}

[[Category:A-Z of the Malta Music Scene]]
[[Category:Singers from Malta]]
[[Category:Għannejja]]
[[Category:Born in 1889]]
[[Category:Died in 1967]]

Ċensu Carabott Il-Bukku

2016-08-15T03:28:58Z

SteveBorg:

{{stub}}

'''Ċensu Carabott Il-Bukku''' [[File:Ċensu Carabott Il-Bukku.jpg|340px|thumb|right|Ċensu Carabott Il-Bukku]] is a folk singer from [[Żejtun]]. He was born in 1967. He folk sings in both the improvised verse and high pitched models. He has folk sung in several Argotti festivals and in bouts of improvised verse including [[Fredu Desira l-Indjan]], [[Pawlu Micallef Iż-Żusfin]] and [[Frans Cassar Il-Bloqq]].

In 2007 he visited Australia where he sung with [[Karmnu Briffa l-Gamamu]], [[Michael Magrin Iż-Żabbari]] and [[Żaren Attard Il-Bukkaċċ]].

==External Links==

* [http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=NL6LKlzeqCo Folk event in Australia, November 2007.]
* [http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=pybw5sOlWnw Performing with Frans Azzopardi ż-Żott in 2013.]
* [http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=bc7TMEale9M Folk music event at Partit Laburista club in Qrendi, 10 January 2014.]

{{DEFAULTSORT:Carabott,Ċensu Il-Bukku}}

[[Category:A-Z of the Malta Music Scene]]
[[Category:Singers from Malta]]
[[Category:Għannejja]]
[[Category:Born in 1967]]

Żaren Brincat tal-Pupa

2016-08-15T03:15:47Z

SteveBorg:

{{stub}}

'''Żaren Brincat tal-Pupa''' [[File:Żaren Brincat tal-Pupa.jpg|320px|thumb|right|Żaren Brincat tal-Pupa.]] is an improvised verse folksinger from Qormi. He is related to [[Indri Brincat l-Pupa]].

{{DEFAULTSORT:Brincat,Żaren tal-Pupa}}

[[Category:A-Z of the Malta Music Scene]]
[[Category:Singers from Malta]]
[[Category:Għannejja]]

Salvu Sciberras Gwardarobbi

2016-08-15T03:09:36Z

SteveBorg:

{{stub}}

'''Salvu Sciberras Gwardarobbi''' was an improvised verse folk singer. He was born in 1945 and hailed from Tarxien. A regular folksinger, he is also recorded in a 1991 bout with [[Ċikku Degiorgio Tal-Fjuri]], [[Frans Cassar Il-Bloqq]] and [[Fredu Abela ż-Żejtuni]] during the Mnarja festivities in [[Buskett]].

{{DEFAULTSORT:Sciberras,Salvu Gwardarobbi}}

[[Category:A-Z of the Malta Music Scene]]
[[Category:Singers from Malta]]
[[Category:Għannejja]]
[[Category:Born in 1945]]