The Maltese Wind Band: A Musical Tradition and Its Practice Today - Paperback

by Simon Farrugia (Author)

Wind bands are common around the world, and the small Mediterranean island of Malta is no exception. Their abundance in Malta testifies to the popularity of the wind band tradition among the locals. It is central to everyday life, particularly during the village feast, which is synonymous with Maltese bands. These ensembles are not made up merely of performers and musical instruments but encapsulate a rich and intricate tradition embedded in the local community.

This book describes the history and development of Maltese wind bands, social and political values, the Maltese march, entertainment, and the recording industry. Chapters demonstrate how local communality, partisan political division and rivalry, foreign influences, continuation of past practices as well as the introduction of new ones, and other interests have coalesced to shape the contemporary Maltese wind band tradition.

Author Biography

Simon Farrugia is a music educator at Malta's Ministry of Education and a lecturer within the School for Educational Studies at the Malta Leadership Institute, where he teaches courses revolving the topic of education. Some of his notable projects include a TV documentary series on world music and a coauthored book related to Maltese historical anthropology, among several other publications in music education and ethnomusicology. He also forms part of the RILM (R駱ertoire International de Litt駻ature Musicale) Malta National Committee.