Emmanuel Galea
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Mro. Emmanuel Galea was born on 25 March 1918, at Floriana, to Carmelo Galea and Grace née Gerada. His family, dating back to his grandfather, lived in Floriana.
He started learning the Clarinet around 1928 under Mro. Adeodato Gatt, Bandmaster of Vilhena Band Club of Floriana. About a year later he started on the Piano with a teacher in Floriana (no name known, but apparently his nickname was Bidittu). Emanuel’s grandfather Paul (1861-1936) also played the Piano. Together with his brother Anthony (French Horn), they continued their instrumental studies with Mro. Francesco Gobet, Bandmaster of Soċjeta Filarmonika King's Own of Valletta (1930-37). Emanuel played Clarinet with the King’s Own Band of Valletta from around the early 1930’s to the late 1950’s, his brother Anthony continued till the early 1980’s. Together with his brother Anthony, and about two others, they used to go around the streets of Floriana playing (probably marches) – this was from around 1932.
He joined the King’s Own Malta Regiment Band, as a boy, in 1932, and continued till 1946, when he then joined the Royal Malta Artillery Band till 1951.
He married Agnes née Brincat in 1942 and they had a son, Vincent, born in 1943. His wife died aged 29 in 1947, and he then married her sister Emanuela, in 1948, and had two sons, Mro. Carmelo Galea born in 1949, and Raymond born in 1950.
He taught musical instruments for some time at Għaqda tal-Mużika San Gejtanu Ħamrun and then with Għaqda Mużikali Beland of Żejtun. For a while he studied Harmony with Mro. Carmelo Pace (1906-1993), and started composing festive marches around the mid 1950’s. His compositions number twenty marches and some other compositions – all his compositions are now stored with Għaqda Mużikali San Pietru fil-Ktajjen of Birżebbuġia, himself being one of the pioneers who set up this band in 1957, after moving to Birzebbugia with his family in 1956, to be close to where he worked, as a civilian, with the Admiralty at Kalafrana with the Royal Naval Air Station Ħal-Far Establishment – (HMS Falcon). In 1963 he was retrenched, during the then so called services run-down. In trying to avoid migrating to Australia, he tried his hand at various jobs, until he found something suitable in 1965, where he continued until his retirement in 1979.
During 1968-1970, Banda San Pietru fil-Ktajjen 1957(Birzebbugia) today known as Għaqda Mużikali San Pietru fil-Ktajjien, stopped functioning, and it was the determination of a very small number of people, including Emanuel, Martin Zammit and Carmelo Polidano that the Band took off again in 1970. Emanuel served Banda San Pietru fil-Ktajjen 1957 in various positions, including those of President, Bandmaster, Assistant Bandmaster, Teacher (musical instruments), besides helping in other different ways, including with his Carpentry trade, besides of course playing the Clarinet. He resigned totally from the Band in 1986 owing to health reasons, and he died on the 18 July 1990. On the 21 July 1990, a Mass praesente cadavere was held at Birzebbugia Parish Church, attended by his son Carmelo from Australia, a representation from the Committee of Banda San Pietru fil-Ktajjen 1957, with a vocal and instrumental accompaniment. It was the wish of his wife Emanuela that no Band accompaniment be organized during the funeral.
His dedication to his family and his musical interests was great. He worked extremely hard to pay for his children’s education and was instrumental in seeing his son Carmelo get a good musical education as well. Fishing was a hobby of his, and as Carpentry was his trade, he once built a boat as well, besides doing necessary work around the house. His love for his first grandson was extraordinary, being Robert, born in 1973, to his son Carmelo and his wife Evelyn née Schembri. One of his marches, ‘Robertus’, composed in 1974, was named for his grandson Robert. During December 1989 and January 1990, Robert’s parents (living in Australia since 1981) sent him to visit his grandfather Emanuel in Malta, which was the last time he would ever see him again.