Two young enthralled boys were part of the small crowd gathered around Mari Van Rooy, as he turned the handle of his melodic red terramaxka along Republic Street in Valletta last Friday.

The terramaxka is a traditional Maltese instrument, and its name comes from the words kitarra maġika. In years past it was a more common sight on the Maltese streets, brought out for various celebrations and feasts.

However this old tradition has not remained so popular, Mr Van Rooy who is decked out in colourful clothing explains, adding that although there were over 50 terramaxki in Malta, they died out sometime around the 1960s.

Many of these marvellous instruments have since left the island, some just broke and others were sold to Americans, but Mr Van Rooy brings back memories of old traditions.

“That is an ancient instrument. I remember it from my childhood,” as one elderly woman passing by Mr Van Rooy exclaims in surprise, clearly lost in memories of days gone by.

In the past there would be two people accompanying it, one of them playing the music and the other one going round the crowd with a plate, so people could give donations.

Mr Van Rooy, who is originally from the Netherlands, is married to a Maltese woman and has been in Malta for 35 years. In his spare time he enjoys taking to the streets of Valletta with his terramaxka, in an attempt to keep the tradition alive.

With a smile he admits that although he has tried to interest his children in his hobby, he has not been very successful so far.

He brought this instrument, which he explains was built in 1917, with him from the Netherlands; however it has since been restored with Maltese statuettes and images, with the help of Victor Trapani.

All genres of music can be played, including the tango, operas, polka and waltzes. The terramaxka can be played by turning a crank by hand, but coin-operated terramaxki also existed.

“People come up to me with various requests,” he says with a smile, just as a man comes up to him, asking him to play Tango bleu. He adds that he always tries to meet their requests.

As a matter of fact he has just purchased around seven new perforated books from France, where there is the only person who still makes these. He admits that they are rather costly, costing him some €500 in all.

He also has a larger terramaxka, which plays some of the traditional Maltese music, something the smaller terramaxka is unable to do, due to the fact that the perforated books do not exist and there is nobody interested in making them.

Mr Van Rooy has a collection of around 100 perforated books for the larger terramaxka and another 80 for the smaller one. These books were invented in around 1890, by Ansiemo Gavioli.

He explains that he has a third terramaxka, which was built before 1890 and is really old, with old wooden wheels. However he does not really take it out anymore, for fear of damaging it.

It is interesting to note that the younger people often walk by without a second glance, but when the music is switched to Bob Marley or someone else they enjoy, they often come back and ask more questions about this magical instrument.

“I am sometimes booked to perform at parties and other similar functions,” he explains, adding that he hopes to be able to keep enjoying his hobby and livening up the streets of Valletta for a while yet.

www.terramaxkamalta.com