Every country has its own traditions and culture, and discovering them is part of getting to know the country and its people. Being out of one’s element is part of the trip. As I am French, my culture is different from the Maltese one’s, as it is different to that of Poland or Sweden. Diversity and cultural richness is undoubtedly one of Europe’s greatest assets, since each country has its own traditions and culture. At a time when we talk about political and economical links in Europe, it is interesting to discover other countries whose culture is so different to my own.

I wanted to know more about Maltese traditions, such as the band clubs, which are numerous on the island – about 330 altogether in Malta and Gozo – quite a large number. In any case, you literally hear them – especially during the summer months, because they are part and parcel of all festas.

This concept of a band club was completely alien to me. I wanted to discover what band clubs were, and I had to learn everything about them from scratch, since my knowledge on this subject was practically nil. I only knew it had to do with music basically, and also with festas, so I had much to learn.

Band clubs were founded during British rule in the late 19th century, as Maltese people wanted to emulate British military bands. However, the Maltese gave them a religious aspect and eventually they became a kind of social activity.

Indeed, band clubs, music and saints go together, but it is much more than this. It is a real organisation dedicated to culture and socialisation. In France, we have completely lost this and it was interesting for me to discover this part of Maltese culture and tradition. So let’s get out of my

element…

The so-called rivalry between band clubs

First I went to Hamrun, to one of the town’s two band clubs: San Gejtanu Band Club. This club was celebrating its 99th anniversary, so the band gave a concert and members of the club who had worked hard were presented with prizes. The anniversary of a club is always a big feast, with concerts and fireworks. Actually four important events are celebrated every year – the club’s anniversary, Christmas, Easter and obviously the festa itself (in August), which is dedicated to the patron saint of the band. In Hamrun, there are actually two band clubs that are in a way rivals. The first Hamrun band club was dedicated to St Joseph, the patron saint of Hamrun. In 1906, a few people decided to create a new club dedicated to a great saint venerated in Hamrun parish, San Gejtanu. Therefore, rivalry began between members of the two clubs, who ridiculed each other by such things as derogatory nicknames. The San Gejtanu members are called “Figs” because, years ago, they used to cook fig rolls, and a strong smell of figs permeated the club! Members of the San Gejtanu band club call their “enemies” the “poor kids”, because when the new band was created, many members of St Joseph Band Club moved to the other. So, it is a kind of rivalry which hardly ever turns nasty, as it is more of a game.

However, it is true that rivalry exists on a national scale, since each band club wants to organise the best and most colourful festa, and give the best concert.

In other band clubs I visited in Sliema, I was told that there was no real rivalry. Actually, people usually go to the band club of the parish church to which they belong. So there is no real competition. The only competition is in villages, where several band clubs share the same patron saint, so they have to coordinate events during the week of festivities that precedes the festa, in order not to have their march at the same time.

A place for conviviality

I thought band clubs only performed during the festa. I was wrong. They are active all year round, organising events like concerts, which are open to everyone, or meals or sporting activities for members of the club. There are usually also youth sections that organise special activities like barbecues, outings and Playstation tournaments for young people. In a way, they try to please every age group in the parish. Actually these band clubs are like micro societies within a town. San Gejtanu’s Band Club has about 400 members, which is quite a large number. And now, thanks to a recent decision, women can also become members. However, there are band clubs where women cannot be members, but this is changing, little by little. The band club has evolved into a social establishment that organises many activities for its members. In addition, band clubs usually have a bar in their building, and it is a place to meet, a place for conviviality instead of going to a bar.

I also found this atmosphere of conviviality in the other band club I visited, the Socjeta Philarmonika Sliema, which was created in 1923, with its initial aim being “to disseminate music and culture,” said president Tonio Portughese. This band also provides free music lessons to 40 students. Its symphony band is well known in Europe, as it has performed in Holland, Hungary, Italy and also Belgium. This band club played the Maltese national anthem in Brussels when Malta joined the EU. It has now decided to give a concert for Europe every year, to celebrate Malta’s accession to the EU. The Socjeta Philarmonika Sliema was also decorated by the EU. It has a radio (94 FM), the first community radio in Sliema. One of the band’s main events reached a climax when it celebrated the feast of Our Lady of the Sacred Heart in Sliema two weeks ago. The other main event this year was the opening of their new hall that can host concerts, ballets and is equipped with a professional recording studio. As Mr Portughese said: “Our activities are, above all, social and cultural activities – not fireworks and festivals.” This particular band club also organises activities to raise awareness about environmental concerns and animal welfare. Band clubs are, indeed, in perpetual motion.

Prestigious places

The Socjeta Philarmonika Sliema club has 450 members, many of whom do not live in Sliema, because of the prestige of this particular band – which is the only one to have the late Pope John Paul II’s skullcap.

The status of these band clubs is indeed quite something. I did not expect the halls to be so richly decorated with many trophies and statues. Money is needed to run these clubs, which are partly funded by subscriptions paid by members. However, donations are the main source of revenue. Hamrun’s band club even has a vase given by Tito!

Something else I didn’t imagine were the important presidents of some band clubs, like Censu Tabone, who was President of Malta and also president of the Socjeta Philarmonika. It proves the importance of such organisations in Maltese society.

Maltese band clubs sometimes perform abroad, as I said, for special events – but I did not find one that had performed in France – like the Socjeta Philarmonika did in Brussels, or the Stella Maris Band Club, also from Sliema, which played in England last September for Malta Day. This band club is smaller, with about a 100 members, and it also provides music lessons free of charge. The diffusion of culture and music really seems to be one of the fundamental goals of all band clubs. Lino Zahra from this club’s committee only regrets that “now youngsters choose Paceville instead of band clubs!”

A family tradition

In most of the band clubs, the members are there because it is a family tradition. You usually go to the band club where your

parents and grandparents used to go and you tend to choose the band club in your parish. Sometimes, however, people decide to go to the band club of another village, because they have friends in that village, or because they support the musical band itself, or they choose the band club they find the most prestigious.

Band clubs actually work as a kind of network. Tania Borg, from San Gejtanu Hamrun Band Club said: “Belonging to a band club is like a religion!” You are securely linked to the band club to which you belong, and friendly relationships can

develop among members. It becomes a kind of extended family!

Band clubs are really a living part of Maltese society, and the festa is usually the main social event of the parish. In addition, you can also find some band clubs abroad – in Canada, for instance, where there are Maltese communities. It is a special aspect of the country and it is worth discovering, especially when you are not used at all to this kind of

organisation.