Difference between revisions of "Leli Ellul Il-Beġiġ"
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Now that Ellul has been doused with the spirit of ''għana'', and is enthusiastic about its current revival and surge in interest, one | 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. | ||
Revision as of 16:48, 29 July 2013
Leli Ellul Il-Beġiġ
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 Iż-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 tqanqil jistenna
Bħal art xotta tiela fis-sema
Loret inti għannej ta' fama
Jien mhux 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.
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 Is-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 was keeps the listeners on tenterhooks, eager to assuage the unfolding battle of the 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-tliet punti tal-irġulija:
Prinċipju, kelma u attitudni.
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=dfA8UErOEIo Żejtun July 2013