Soċjeta Filarmonika Maria Mater Gratiae
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History
The Maria Mater Gratiae Phiharmonic Society knows its origin to the initative of Francesco Saverio Briffa who in 1883 formed the first band known as the ‘Societa Filamonica del Żabbar’. Mro Ġiuseppe Micallef, nicknamed ‘Il-Baqrambu’ was the first band master. But trouble soon ensued as some members wanted to substitute the band master and founded another society. Briffa changed the name of the orginal society to ‘Societa Filarmonica Maria Mater Gratiae’, confirming Micallef as the band master.
Other band masters such as Mro. Paċifico Scicluna and Mro. Lorenzo Gonzi subsequently made this band very popular endowing it with new compositions. During this time, under the Presidency of Ġiuseppe Calleja, the Society commissioned the popular statue representing Victorious Malta, which has since then become synonymous with the Society’s Band.
During the decicated presidency of Dr. G. Agius Muscat, a set of new instruments was purchased, and blessed by Cardinal Lepicier. After the Second World War when Mr. A. Felice was elected President, the Society evolved the theatrial productions so popular before the war. So much so that a new theatre was built which was called Blue Arena. During the Festivities marking the Coronation of the Icon of Our Lady of Divine Grace, the Band premiered a new anthem, composed by the then band master Mro. Joseph Abela Scolaro with lyrics by Fr. Mattew Sultana.
After ten years under the direction of Mro. Joseph Abela Scolaro, the band’s baton was passed on to Mro. Carmelo Caruana who relinquished the post after eleven years to be succeeded by Mro. Orazio Cachia. During thsi period, the Society also had various president with such prominent persons as Espedito Catania, Francis Scicluna and Joseph C. Attard.
The eighties also proved to be fruitful for the Society. Importance was duty given to young members and the female element. The Society distinguished itself in extrenal decorations, especially during Christmas. The vigorous presidency of Mr. V. Magri proved fruitul to reinvigorate the Society and ead it into the new millennium. On the musical side, the Society employed the services of a Young band master, Mro. Raymond Sciberras who is renowed for his charming compositions. He continued to enrich the Society’s Archives with classical musical works, rendering hom one of the best and most prolific composers of our times.
Above all the Society always took pride in the members who, under the divine gudance of Our Lady of Grace, always worked hard to keep the Society’s name esteemed by all.
Organisation
Band Masters
No | Band Master | From | Until |
---|---|---|---|
01 | Mro. Ġiuseppe Micallef | 1883 | 1889 |
02 | Mro. Carmelo Abela Scolaro | 1889 | 1891 |
03 | Mro. Ġiuseppe Micallef | 1891 | 1893 |
04 | Mro. Bernando Costa | 1893 | 1895 |
05 | Mro. Ġiuseppe Micallef | 1895 | 1899 |
06 | Mro. Spiridione Zammit | 1899 | 1903 |
07 | Mro. Paċifico Scicluna | 1903 | 1906 |
08 | Mro. Salvatore Galea Abela | 1906 | 1908 |
09 | Mro. Lorenzo Gonzi | 1908 | 1913 |
10 | Mro. Paċifico Scicluna | 1913 | 1918 |
11 | Mro. Lorenzo Gonzi | 1918 | 1928 |
12 | Mro. Paċifico Scicluna | 1928 | 1943 |
13 | Mro. Emanuel Camilleri | 1943 | 1944 |
14 | Mro. Paċifico Scicluna | 1944 | 1951 |
15 | Mro. Joseph Abela Sciclua | 1951 | 1961 |
16 | Mro. William James Worley | 1961 | 1963 |
17 | Mro. Carmelo Caruana | 1963 | 1974 |
18 | Mro. Orazio Cachia | 1974 | 1981 |
19 | Mro. Anġelo Pace | 1981 | 1985 |
20 | Mro. Ugo Buhagiar | 1985 | 1990 |
21 | Mro. Raymond Sciberras | 1990 |
Presidents
No | Presidents | From | Until |
---|---|---|---|
01 | Francesco Savero Briffa | 1883 | 1898 |
02 | Giuseooe Pace Spadaro | 1895 | 1900 |
03 | Francesco Savero Briffa | 1900 | 1916 |
04 | Giuseppe Calleja | 1916 | 1921 |
05 | Ġiovanni Corrado | 1921 | 1924 |
06 | Giuseppe Calleja | 1924 | 1925 |
07 | Dr.Giuseppe Ellul M.D. | 1925 | 1927 |
08 | Aronne Gulia | 1927 | |
09 | Dr. Giuseppe Agius Muscat M.D. | 1927 | 1943 |
10 | Salvatore Astarita | 1943 | |
11 | Dr. Giuseppe Agius Muscat M.D. | 1943 | |
12 | Arturo R. Felice | 1946 | 1946 |
13 | Espedito Catania | 1953 | 1953 |
14 | Victor Cauchi | 1957 | 1957 |
15 | Salvatore F.Sciberras | 1959 | 1959 |
16 | Espedito Catania | 1961 | 1961 |
17 | John Debono | 1962 | 1962 |
18 | Francis J.Scicluna | 1962 | 1962 |
19 | Espedito Catania | 1974 | 1974 |
20 | Alfred R. Scicluna | 1976 | 1979 |
21 | Salvatore F. Sciberras | 1979 | 1982 |
22 | Joseph C.Attard | 1982 | 1988 |
23 | Vincent Magri | 1988 |
Secretaries
Treasurers
Band Commissions
Band Activities Overseas
Historical Events in which the Band participated
Song Festivals, Events or Drama Activies
Annual Concerts
Annual Musical Activities
Recorded releases (LPs, Cassettes and CDs)
Cd's
No | Name of Cd's | Year | Marches | Funeral Marches | Waltzes | Others |
01 | Marċi Brijużi (2008) - Soċjeta Filarmonika Maria Mater Gratiae | 2008 | * | |||
02 | Marċi Brijużi (2012) - Soċjeta Filarmonika Maria Mater Gratiae | 2012 | * | |||
03 | Marċi Brijużi (2019) - Soċjeta Filarmonika Maria Mater Gratiae | 2019 | * |
Others
No | Name of Cd's | Year | Marches | Funeral Marches | Waltzes | Others |
01 | Cantata Maria Mater Gratiae - 1951 - 50 sena - 2001 - Soċjeta Filarmonika Maria Mater Gratiae | 2001 | * | |||
02* | Sultana ta' Beltna - 60 Sena Inkurunata 1951 - 2011 - Soċjeta Filarmonika Maria Mater Gratiae | 2011 | * | |||
03+ | Mija u Tletin - Soċjeta Filarmonika Maria Mater Gratiae | 2013 | * |
- Singer Stephanie Zammit
+ Singers Eleanor Cassar, Corazon Mizzi, Ludwig Galea, Mike Spiteri