Alfred Sant nominates ‘Malta Band Club Association’ for 2016 European Citizen’s Prize

Former Prime Minister and Maltese MEP Alfred Sant has nominated the Malta Band Clubs Association to the European Citizen’s Prize for 2016. Dr. Sant said he was making this nomination in recognition of the Malta Band Clubs Assocation’s achievements, and to honour the contribution of all band clubs in the Maltese islands to popular culture and social cohesion. Most clubs are affiliated with the Malta Band Club Association, a non-profit NGO created in 1947 to coordinate the talents and traditions of band clubs. It promotes relationships between clubs, assists and represents them in dealings with government and other authorities. The Association is committed to the continuous development of music education. The nomination has been co-signed by MEPs Miriam Dalli and Marlene Mizzi.
Dr. Sant said that across local communities in Malta, band clubs developed over the last 150 years. They originated from two activities prevalent in Malta’s traditional society: participation in church music and in the bands of British regiments stationed in Malta. Band clubs promote a popular appreciation of European classical music while encouraging locally created works.
“Typically a club has centrally located premises run by volunteers, with activities focusing on the band. It plays for the village festa, celebrations of the Catholic liturgy, and concerts. Other activities include the organization of music lessons and musical archives, and the commissioning of new works. Clubs are vital institutions in community life.” Said Dr. Sant.

In 2014, band clubs totaled 90 with 37,100 members, of which 11.4 per cent were band players. They organized 1,177 musical programmes – a formidable contribution to popular culture.” said Dr. Sant.

Maltese Version – ALFRED SANT JINNOMINA LILL-GĦAQDA KAŻINI TAL-BANDA GĦALL-PREMJU TAĊ-ĊITTADIN EWROPEW 2016

L-Ewroparlamentari Malti Alfred Sant qed jinnomina lill-Għaqda Każini tal-Banda għall-Premju taċ-Ċittadin Ewropew għall-2016. Dr. Sant qal li għamel dan b’sens ta’ għarfien għall-kisbiet tagħha, u biex jagħti ġieħ lill-kontribut mogħti mill-każini tal-baned kollha lill-kultura mużikali u l-koeżjoni soċjali fil-gżejjer Maltin. Fil-biċċa l-kbira tagħhom, il-każini huma affiljati mal-Għaqda Każini tal-Banda, għaqda volontarja li ma taħdimx għall-profitt. Inħolqot fl-1947 biex tikkordina t-talenti u t-tradizzjonijiet tal-każini tal-banda. Hi tippromwovi r-rabtiet bejn il-każini, waqt li tgħinhom u tirrappreżentahom fir-relazzjonijiet tagħhom mal-gvern u awtoritajiet oħra. L-Għaqda għandha impenn sħiħ favur l-iżvilupp kontinwu tal-edukazzjoni mużikali. In-nomina kienet iffirmata wkoll mill-MEPs Miriam Dalli u Marlene Mizzi.
Dr. Sant qal li l-każini tal-banda żviluppaw fil-kommunitajiet lokali Maltin matul l-aħħar mija u ħamsin sena. Huma raw il-bidu tagħhom f’żewġ attivitajiet li kienu jseħħu fis-soċjetà tradizzjonali Maltija: parteċipazzjoni fil-mużika li tindaqq fil-knejjes, u fil-baned tar-reġimenti Ingliżi stazzjonati f’Malta. Il-każini tal-banda jippromwovu apprezzament popolari tal-mużika Ewropea klassika waqt li jinkoraġġixxu l-ħolqien ta’ xogħlijiet muzikali f’Malta.

“Normalment każin ikollu l-binja tiegħu mmexxija minn voluntiera li tkun tinsab fiċ-ċentru tal-lokalità, minn fejn jiġu organizzati attivitajiet madwar il-banda. Din iddoqq għall-festa tal-lokalità, f’ċelebrazzjoniiet tal-liturġija kattolika, u f’kunċerti. Attivitajiet oħra jinkludu l-organizzazzjoni ta’ lezzjonijiet tal-mużika u ta’ arkivji mużikali, kif ukoll l-ikkommisjonar ta’ xogħlijiet ġodda. Il-każini huma istituzzjonijiet vitali fil-ħajja tal-komunità.” Qal Dr. Sant.

Fis-sena 2014, kien hemm b’kollox 90 każin tal-banda b’37,100 membru, li minnhom 11.4 fil-mija kienu jdoqqu. Organizzaw 1,177 programmi mużikali, f’kontribut liema bħalu għall-kultura popolari.