Merga

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Merga (Mary Buttigieg)

Mary Galea, married Buttigieg, born on 25 May, 1952 at Rabat, Malta. She is a singer know as Merga.

Take her education in the Primary School at Rabat and Secondary School Our Lady Immaculate, at Ħamrun.

The first time she sing, was at the Rabat Song Contest organized by ŻĦN in 1962. Where she sings ‘Nixtieq Nittajjar’, a Maltese version of the Italian Song 'Vorrei Volare’.

She have never had a singing teacher but since her father was a good musiċision, he was help her a lot.

Mary Galea is more known in the musical field as Merga a stage name that was started using it when she was going to sing abroad, For Several times she take part in many song Festivals like Rabat Song Contest, Aurora Song Festival, Lester Production Song Festival, Żebbuġ Song Festival, Malta Song Festival, Festival tal-Kanzunetti Marjani, Malta International Festival (Toursit Revues) Gozo Festival and Għanja tal-Poplu organized by YTC.

In the above festivals won several times, First at Għanja Tal-Poplu by YTC, Win in Aurora Festival, and Marjan Festival, Festival in Gozo, and come second or third in others or reach the final night.

John B.Cassar wrote many songs for her, In the beginning for aothers singers toot. In fact the first songs that Merga sings of of John B.Cassar had already sang from other singers was 'Madonnina' by Terry L Bencini in the First Malta Song Contest in 1960.

John B Cassar composer was already established when Merga started singing for her he wrote a 'Speak of Your Tears' and 'Niket u Faraġ Faraġ' (Sorrow and Consolation) which Merga participated in the International Festival of Malta (Tourist Revue) and both are at disc Belter out some other songs which I participated in festivals in Malta.

In 1969, singer Joe Bugeja was going to represent Malta at the International Festival at Tenerife, in the Canary Islands. Just a few weeks before the festival, he decided to leave Malta and go to work to England. Shortly before John B Cassar was sent some of Merga recordings to record home company Belter were also entered in the Festival of Tenerife. When John B Cassar informed that Joe Bugeja Belter could not take part, they suggest him to go Merga as substitute instead of him. Infact shortly before the festival entranced I went to Barcelona and recorded the song ‘Johnny’, the song that Merga would sing at the festival, and also they need a B Side, and John B Cassar decided to do 'Madonnina'.

Merga (Mary Buttigieg)

With Belter also recorded 'Speak of Your Tears' and 'Niket u Faraġ' (Sorrow and Consolation) composed by John B Cassar. Also recorded a song written by Lee Spiteri which rapresent Malta in the International Festival of Sopot, in Poland. They all recorded with Belter to made in Barcelona, Spain

Merga taken part in serveral Festivals aboard, such, in Tenerife, Greece, Poland, Italy, Rio di Janeiro, Brazil, Cuba.

Merga was involved in the work Ikun li Trid Int. It was written by Prof.Manuel Mifsud and Therese Cassar in the early 70s. Sang first by own members of YTC at Sanctuary of Our Lady of Mellieħa.

After we recorded also in the studios of MTV and was filmed in colour although it was not yet the colour tv Malta. And was recorded on a Long Play Album in 1976 and later on in 2001 on a cd. The Festival Għanja tal-Poplu began to be done once a year for members of the YTC. The members themselves had to write objectives and singing well. Started at the beginning of the 1973. Merga won this festival with the song of Manuel Mifsud ‘Inti’ (You) and best singer trophy with with the song ‘In-Naffar’ (Tori) by Walter Micallef and Alfred E.Baldacchino and also win the third place.

After she stop for some years taken part in festival, but after in 2009 Merga join a sing choir Enkor. This choir is led by Johanna Van Lent, Dutch living in Malta. Sing any kind of songs, and more the Gospel songs.