Għaqda Mużikali Marija Annunzjata Ħal Tarxien A.D. 1862
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History
The Annunciation Band Club in Ħal-Tarxien known as Għaqda Mużikali Marija Annunzjata’ is the only band club established in the village of Ħal Tarxien in Malta. Its origins are traced back to the mid 19th century. In 1862, Odilone Caruana, a well-known personality from Ħaż-Żabbar, residing in the village, gathered some youths to set up a band club in Tarxien.
The band was originally known as Banda del Tarxien. Later on, the band changed its name to San Ġiovanni since Ħal Tarxien was known as ir-raħal ta’ San Ġwann (the village of St. John), until in 1885 it became known as Banda San Giuseppe, following the erection of a chapel dedicated to St Joseph in the outskirts of the village. Its first premises were located in Strada Sant’ Anna and later the club was transfered to 54, Strada Reale.
In 1904 the band club became known as Circolo Filarmonica Annunzjata and in 1912 it acquired new larger premises in Strada Paola, the same premises which are still in use today. The band club kept its Italian name until it was statutory changed to Għaqda Mużikali Marija Annunzjata in 1986.
The club’s first band director was Mro Giuseppe Portelli till 1890. He was followed by Mro Napoleon Caruana Dingli and other various famous bandmasters amongst whom Mro Lorenzo Gonzi and Mro Vincenzo Ciappara.
After all these years of existance, the Annuncation Band Club is still the only band club founded in Tarxien. It offers free musical lessons for all those people who wish to learn music and gives the opportunity to form part of the band afterwards.
The band club new premises which are being built will offer a place for all people and ideal for family and friends gatherings all year round especially in May when the village of Tarxien celebrate the Feast of the Annunciation.
Coath of Arm
The club's logo, designed by Chev. Rafel Bonnici Calì, is very similar to the Parish’s coat of arms, which is made up of two main parts. The upper part features the letter M which stands for the Blessed Virgin Mary, whilst the lower part features two upright blue stripes, against a white background. In addition to this the club's logo features the musical ‘lyra’ (harp), which is positioned between the blue stripes in the lower part.
Organisation
Since its setup the Tarxien band club had 33 Presidents who, together with the club members and its bandisti, strived hard to promote the music culture amongst the locals of Tarxien. The club always had a substantial number of student band players who later on became members of the club's band.
Main Committee
The club is run by an executive committee made up of 13 members and led by the committee's President. All officials serving in this committee are elected biannually during an Annual General Meeting. The current president is Mr. Victor Seguna and has been in office since 2007. The current band director is Mro. Hermann Farrugia Frantz and has been in office since 2011.
Youth Section
The executive committee is supported by the club's youths section founded in 1993 Sezzjoni Żgħażagħ u Partitarji in the running of the club and the organization of the various activities held by the club during the year.
Band Commission
The executive committee is supported by the band comission which is in charge of all the band members of the Annunciation Band. It is responsbile of all the band’s comittments, especially during the feast week. The band commisson is also in-charge of the annual muscial programme held on Wednesday of the feast week.
Kumitat Planċier
In 1994, a group of band club activists formed the Kumitat Planċier which after 7 years of hard work and sacrifices inaugurated one of the biggest and richest bandstand (planċier) in Malta.
Years passed by, however for most local Maltese activists, it is still considered to be one of the best Planċier ever.
Construction of new Premises
In 2011, this band club started one of the biggest project which has ever did. The demolition of the current premises and construction of a new band club. The new facilities which are being built and are at an advanced stage, include a large basement, a main entrance which stairs leading to the second floor, large bar-area, three large halls and a new façade complimenting the urban conservation area of the old village of Tarxien.
Currently the construction of the main entrance is taking place whilst the latest preparations for the construction of the main facade are being made.
150th year Anniversary Celebrations
In 2012, the Annunciation Band Club of Tarxien commemorated the 150th year anniversary. A new logo Futur lil Wirtna designed by the late Renzo Gauci was inaugurated in January 2012 after a mass held at the Tarxien parish and a march by the band around Tarxien for the opening celebrations of this important anniversary.
For the 150th anniversary occasion the Annunciation Band Club issued two recordings: Funeral Marches Lachrimae Christi and Festive Marches Futur lil Wirtna.
In April 2012, to commemorate the 150th anniversay the Annunciation Band presented a concert of holy music named A Maria Santissima Annunziata held at Tarxien Parish Church.
The 5th May 2012, saw the band participating in the official ceremony where the first stone of the new premises of the band club was placed by the President of Malta Dr.George Abela.
In September 2012 a concert Mużika 150 was held at the Grand Master Palace in Valletta to commemorate the 150th anniversary of this band club.
Organisation
Band Masters
No | Band Master | From | Until |
---|---|---|---|
01 | Ġuseppe Portelli | 1870 | 1890 |
02 | Napuljun Caruana Dingli | 1890 | 1905 |
03 | Salvatore Galea Abela | 1905 | 1906 |
04 | Ignazio Catania | 1906 | 1908 |
05 | Ġiuseppe Camenzuli | 1908 | 1909 |
06 | Lorenzo Gonzi | 1909 | 1924 |
07 | Vincenzo Ciappara | 1924 | 1931 |
08 | Lorenzo Gonzi | 1931 | 1934 |
09 | Antonio Zammit | 1934 | 1938 |
10 | Ġiuseppe Buttigieg | 1938 | 1944 |
11 | Ġiuseppe Magri | 1944 | 1945 |
12 | Ġiuseppe Buttigieg | 1945 | 1972 |
13 | Salvino Fabri | 1972 | 1974 |
14 | Paolo Buttigieg | 1974 | 1978 |
15 | John J. Pace | 1978 | 1983 |
16 | Ġiuseppe Buttigieg | 1983 | 1984 |
17 | Paolo Buttigieg | 1984 | 1991 |
18 | Saviour Portelli | 1991 | 1993 |
19 | Dominic Darmanin | 1993 | 1997 |
20 | Victor Vella | 1997 | 2011 |
21 | Hermann Farrugia Frantz | 2011 |
Presidents
Secretaries
Treasurers
Band Commissions
Band Activities Overseas
Historical Events in which the Band participated
Song Festivals, Events or Drama Activies
Annual Concerts
Annual Musical Activities
Recorded releases (LPs, Cassettes and CDs)
Cassettes
No | Name of Cassettes - Festive Marches | Year | Marches | Funeral Marches | Waltzes | Others |
01 | Festive Marches - Marċi Brijuzi - Għaqda Mużikali Maria Annunziata (1990) | 1990 | * | |||
02 | Festive Marches - Marċi Brijuzi - Għaqda Mużikali Maria Annunziata (1992) | 1992 | * | |||
03 | Festive Marches - Marċi Brijuzi - Għaqda Mużikali Maria Annunziata (1994) | 1994 | * | |||
04 | Festive Marches - Marċi Brijuzi - Għaqda Mużikali Maria Annunziata (1998 - 1999) | 1998-1999 | * | |||
05 | Festive Marches - Marċi Brijuzi - Għaqda Mużikali Maria Annunziata (2000) | 2000 | * | |||
06 | Festive Marches - Marċi Brijuzi - Festa 2001 - Għaqda Mużikali Maria Annunziata (2001) | 2001 | * |
Cd's
No | Name of Cd's - Festive Marches | Year | Marches | Funeral Marches | Waltzes | Others |
01 | Festive Marches - Marċi Brijuzi - Festa 2005 - Mill-Għaqda Mużikali Maria Annuzjata (Tarxien) (2005) (Vol. 01) | 2005 | * | |||
02 | Festive Marches - Marċi Brijuzi - Futur lil Wirtna fl-okkażjoni tal-150 Anniversarju mit-twaqqif tal-Għaqda Mużikali Maria Annuzjata (Tarxien) (2012) (Vol. 02) | 2012 | * |
No | Name of Cd's - Funeral Marches | Year | Marches | Funeral Marches | Waltzes | Others |
01 | Funeral Marches - Marċi Funebri - Mill-Għaqda Mużikali Maria Annuzjata (Tarxien) (1995) (Vol. 01) | 1995 | * | |||
02 | Funeral Marches - Marċi Funebri - Lachrimae Christi f'okkażjoni tal-150 sena mit-twaqqif ta' l-Għaqda Mużikali Maria Annuzjata (Tarxien) (2012) (Vol. 02) | 2012 | * |