Frans Mifsud ta' Vestru

Frans Mifsud ta' Vestru

Frans Mifsud ta' Vestru

is a folk singer from Żejtun. Born on 31st August 1953, he is the son of well known Żaren Mifsud ta' Vestru. The family name originated from his grandfather Vestru, a farmer who used to folk sing in his fields of Ta' Marnisi, in Żejtun.

From Żaren's children, only Frans took to folk singing, whereas a daughter, Catherine used to feature on Maltese pop numbers, some released on vinyl.

Frans has sung six folk ballads, all written for him by Karmenu Debono l-Pikipakk from Birkirkara, himself a folk singer. These include Il-Għażiż Missieri in homage of Żaren, and folk sung for the first time at the Argotti Folk Music festival in 2000, when it was organized by Ġorġ Mifsud Chircop.

A recording of the session was made by the Ministry of Culture. Other ballads include Ix-Xemgħa, Żjara saċ-Ċimiterju, L-Ilsien Malti, which was recorded on One Radio for an għana programme hosted by Joe Magrin, and Ta' Peppi tat-Tuttu.

Frans starting folk singing at 34 years of age when he was in a line up that presented three stalwarts of the time, Żeppi Meli ta' Sika, Frans Baldacchino il-Budaj and his father Żaren Mifsud ta' Vestru, during a session held at Is-Safsafin in Qormi. His favourite ballad is one sung by his father, entitled Ġużeppi u Maria.

The folk music tradition in the family has now also passed down to his son Ionut Mifsud ta' Vestru, who has taken to folk music playing since 2011, on the prim guitar.

External Links

http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=Hp3S4oyo1Lk Ballad Il-Għażiż Missieri in honour of his father Żaren ta' Vestru.