Band music by candlelight

A number of band clubs scattered across the island will come to life to the sound of music with a series of classical concerts themed Music by Candlelight starting on February 25.

The idea is of journalist and historian Lino Bugeja, who is bent on exposing the hidden treasures which enrich band clubs in towns and villages, through classical music.

"All band clubs boast excellent premises which can serve as a catalyst for their 23,800 members and further the propagation of classical music," he said.

Mr Bugeja hopes that the evenings will re-ignite interest in band clubs after recent statistics showed that membership was down last year compared with previous years.

The plan is to organise a concert in a different band club every month. Specialised CDs relating to a particular liturgical period will be played and a well-known musicologist or critic will give a talk and a small synopsis prior to every piece.

The first one is on Ash Wednesday at Vittoriosa's Soçjeta' Muzikali San Lawrenz in Victory Square at 7 p.m.

The concert, being held in collaboration with society president Lawrence Farrugia, will include pieces by Mozart, Luigi Fenech, Allegri and Rossini.

Joe Vella Bondin, an experienced musicologist and author of several academic music contributions, will be presenting the first evening.

The band club will be dimly lit with candlelight to get the audience into the mood. Since the first concert coincides with Ash Wednesday, a statue of Jesus and the Agony in the Garden, attributed to Melchiorre Gafà, will also be brought in.

This first performance, which will last about an hour, will be under the patronage of former President Ugo Mifsud Bonnici.

The next Music by Candlelight concert will be held at St Julian's Band Club on March 10 and will be compèred by Albert Storace.

For more information call Mr Bugeja on 2163 3126 or Vittoriosa's band club on 2182 6516. Entrance to the concerts is free.