I really enjoy reading Lino Bugeja’s writing for he is such a natural with words. His thoughts on sports and culture, his impassioned ideas on things historical and the environment are always impeccably constructed and construed with such an ease of expression that makes them such a pleasure to read.
Mr Bugeja lists some of the factors concerning “the dramatic growth in public awareness and appreciation of classical music” so as to illustrate his Talking Point feature of the June 8 issue entitled A Small State Overflowing With Music. I would also include the contribution given over the years by the national orchestra. I believe that its sterling musical service has struck many a chord in places that would otherwise have forever remained in a soundless vacuum.
And I’m grateful to Joseph Sammut for having the guts to fight off the disbandment of the then Drydocks’ brass ensemble following the Baileys’ pull-out; and Michael Laus’s vision and dedication in honing the orchestra he inherited into the fine credible instrument it is today. I am fully aware of how Prof. Laus, a consummate musician if ever there was one, often had to battle against great odds in order to achieve his dream.
Mr Bugeja’s mention of Classic FM has inspired this other tidbit of musical nostalgia. The Manoel Theatre, with John Lowell at its helm, decided to celebrate the Commonwealth Heads of Government Meeting (CHOGM) forum held in Malta between November 21 and 26, 2005. This resulted in a spactacular multicultural celebration of diverse musical talents which nowadays is almost impossible to conceive.
The loud and colourful Trinidad and Tobago Street Orchestra, the Ngati Ranana Maori Group, the Cyprus State Orchestra, Ashe ensemble from Jamaica, Koo Nimo trio from Ghana, pianist Simon Tedeschi from Australia, tenor Joseph Aquilina, harpist Cecilia Sultana de Maria, Gozo’s Għaqda Folkloristika Tal-Qiegħa, the UK conductor Simon Wills, together with other outstanding soloists participated in this astounding event entitled: The Commonwealth Resounds!
Besides the Manoel (November 25), this wide musical array featured at the Mediterranean Conference Centre, the Aurora Opera House, St James Cavalier, the Suncrest, Park and Victoria Hotels, Sir Temi Zammit Hall and various colleges and schools.
I have this vivid recollection of the Trinidad and Tobago massive troupe beating their tin drums at the gymnasium of De La Salle College. Flanking them on all four sides were the blazer-clad, awe-filled faces of the mesmerised students. The band’s leader summoned the boys to join and to the dismay of the rector and his staff this huge exodus of students poured out on stage. In a matter of moments this huge commotion resolved into numerous groups of big black musicians and puny white boys dancing, thumping drums and gesticulating with wild abandon.
The air was electrifying and I felt shivers run down my spine as some inner voice whispered: Yes, this is music!
An event of such magnitude needed funds which were sought from overseas. Among our main collaborators were the Royal Overseas League and Classic FM. The latter besides profusely promoting the event for over a month remanded two of its foremost deejays to compere the Manoel concert. They were splendid and, as far as I know, this was the one and only time when the station’s broadcasters featured in a live event.