Durante Magri Grech

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Mro. Durante Magri Grech was a disciplined Musical Director and this came to no surprise since he was a member of the military service. Following the termination of his musical studies, he was engaged as a soldier in the Royal Malta Militia Regiment. Following that, he was promoted to Sergeant and appointed musical director of the Regiment’s Band. When Mro Magri Grech was appointed director of the Duke of Edinburgh’s Band, he was assistand Director of Mro Alfred P. Hare at the King’s Own Band Club of Valletta. In fact, it is suspected that his appointed came following a recommendation of Mro Hare.

The news as given in local newspapers was somewhat late since Mro Magri Grech was already conducting the band in 2 musical programmes done on the occasion of the Ħaż-Żabbar Feast on the 8 and 9 September. On this occasion, Mro Magri Grech introduced for the first time the ‘Passo Doppio’, which was never played and interpreted in previous performances. The first was the Orientale of Ferradini. The same 2 programmes done at Żabbar were repeated the following week on the occasion of the Saint Dominic Feast in Vittoriosa, and he added the Polka Margherita of Mro Vella Selections from La Maritana of Wallace, which were both new to this band. Most probably, these two programmes in the feast of Saint Dominic were the last musical performances under his baton.

The directorship of Mro Magri Grech was not destined to remain for long. He was appointed Maestro in times when the local band clubs were reaching a very high level. Thus, as a result of the piques between band clubs, the supporters of these band clubs were ready to do sacrifices in order to see their favourite band as perfect as possible. And for this reason, foreing band conductors were being appointed as Maestros in the local scene.