Andrew Alamango: “We don’t much understand the importance and relevance of music as a communal culture.” Photo: Matthew Mirabelli

Malta’s musical roots need to be better appreciated and a bigger effort made to ensure people get to enjoy the sounds of their heritage, according to musician Andrew Alamango.

“We don’t much understand the importance and relevance of music as a communal culture. Take the għannej, for example. He told the stories of the time and delivered the news and this brought people together.

“This is part of our collective memory. Not referring to it, not having con­tinuous transmission, is like losing a memory,” he said.

Mr Alamango, 41, is convinced that this form of music remains hugely relevant nowadays because, just like food, there is a communal need to share it.

This is the mission he has set himself, which is why he was involved in setting up a digital sound database of Malta’s old music at the National Archives and helped put together the CD Malta’s Lost Voices.

He placed this music, dating as far back as the 1930s, on the website of Filfla Records, a record label and research project set up to publish and make vintage Maltese music accessible.

“There is the need to first preserve, make accessible and then reinterpret this music to ensure longevity,” he said.

Mr Alamango, who has a passion for traditional and vintage music, has travelled to various countries in search of new sounds.

“When you come into contact with musicians and artistes, no matter the culture, the language or whatever, there is direct contact. In spite of politics or whatever, you sit down and play. It’s that easy,” he said.

He has just spent three weeks in Nablus, Palestine, where he was involved in a British Council project.

He was contacted by Wildworks, an international theatre company, to form part of a team of seven people who set out to collect the stories of people from the village.

He was the musical director and his job involved sourcing music and musicians. He then produced a soundtrack to go with the stories.

The work culminated in a production developed by the Wildworks team.

Where will we get our future musicians from?

Theatre workshops were held to equip the people of Nablus with the tools needed to create landscape theatre, giving voice to their experiences and building confidence in their communities and culture.

“Kids there get a solid musical education. They are proud of their talent. There is a strong sense of community.

“When you’re there you get a different perspective. Here, music is not taken seriously,” he said adding that more emphasis needed to be made on teaching music to children if Malta wanted to ensure it had a future generation of musicians.

As things stood today, he said, those with a passion for music had to study abroad and if they wanted a career in music they had to work abroad.

“Where will we get our future musicians from?” he asked.