A programme of activities will be held in Rabat to mark the 125th birthday of Vincenzo Ciappara, Malta’s most prolific band march composer. Maestro Ciappara succeeded Francesco Bellizzi as band master of the band in 1928, a tenure that lasted 50 years.

Next Sunday at 10am, the band will parade along the main streets of Rabat performing 12 of the band marches composed by Ciappara.

Hundreds such marches are preserved in the musical archives of Count Roger Band Club. Among these marches is the well-known Innu lill-Appostlu Missierna San Pawl.

Ina Ciappara, widow of Ciappara’s son Joseph, will inaugurate a display of artefacts related to Ciappara at St Paul’s Club in Main Street at 11.30am.

The exhibition, which is open until November 22, features Ciappara’s violin, which he played as a member of the Teatro Reale orchestra.

A talk on Ciappara’s contribution to Maltese music and his life will be held at the club on November 18 at 7pm. The speakers include Prof. Joseph Vella, who succeeded Ciappara as musical director of Count Roger Band, historian Winston Zammit, Count Paul Tonna, a former president of the the band, and music critic Peter Paul Ciantar.

All Maltese band march enthusiasts are invited to attend.

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