Maria Annunziata Band Club - Pictures
Building of theNew Premises
GHAQDA MUZIKALI MARIJA ANNUNZJATA
(Maria Annunziata Band Club)
Maria Annunziata Band Club was founded in 1862 by Odilone Caruana. He not only found many personnel to form the society but àlso paid for the musical instruments and even for a place to use as a club.
Odilone Caruana was born in Zabbar, but lived in Tarxien behind the parish church in number 4, Brittania Street. He was a very rich man, son of Legal Procurator Angelo and Catherine nee’ Zammit. The band was known as the Tarxien band as others, but it’s name was ‘Banda San Giovanni, because Hal Tarxien was known as ir-Rahal ta’ San Gwann, (St. John Village for a chappel dedicated to St John t’Ghuxa today inside Cospicua Bastions.
At first they used to use a place in St Ann Street, behind the chappel of St Bartholomew. After some time the band club was transfered to 54 Main Street. At some time the band was dissolved, but in 1890 Mr Joseph Spiteri re-established the band with a new name, Banda San Giuzeppe, (Saint Joseph Band), for a new chappel built in Tarxien Road.
Later in the years Hal Tarxien band was again dissolved but in 1904 a new band was created with the name of ‘Circolo Filarmonico l’Annunziata with a new premises in 9, Starda Casale Tarxien e Paola, today Paola Road.
Among the many band masters we mension some of the best in Malta, Maestro Ignazio Catania, Vincenzo Ciappara, Antonio Zammit and Lorenzo Gonzi, Maestro di Capella of our parish church and others around Malta. He wrote the Antifona of the Virgin Mary Annunciation, and the Maria Annunziata Band Club Anthem, we call in Maltese ‘L-Innu l-Kbir' words of his brother the Archbishop of Malta Mons Sir Michael Gonzi. Lorenzo Gonzi directed the band from 1909 to 1934 when he died at the age of 47 years.
The band took part in many occasions such as and it was the first band to take part in an event in Valletta in 1909 commemorating Victory day of the 8th September 1565. Another occasion was when Prince George was crown King George V of the United Kingdom and it’s dependencies on 22nd June 1911 with 22 other bands from around the island from Floriana to Valletta Main Guard, or Piazza San Giorgio. Again the band took part for the crowning of Queen Elizabeth II in June 1953.
The society took part in many other occasions, especially in the feast of the Patron Saint of Hal Tarxien, Marija Annunzjata. Every year the band uses new musical marches written by diverse band musicians.
The club was bought in 1980 during the presidency of the late Mr Joseph M Cachia. Today the band club was demolished and a new one and a better and artistic one is being built. It will be the largest band club in Malta. All members of the club are helping in the building of the new premises, some by doing the job of the building and paintings of the walls, others collecting funds. It is still early on when the new club will be completed, because a lot of work is needed to build such a great building.
Today the committee of the band club is led by it’s president Mr Victor Seguna, an old member of the club since he was in his teens. He made part of a the past committees. He was always a dedicated member toward the band club and still is. I auger him many more years as a leader of the band club.
Also the many young men helping and organising many activities to collect funds for the expenses of the new building and other things. Thanks to the youth committee and it’s members for such activities and other occasions which give those attending great evenings and functions at the club and outside. Keep up the good work you all youngsters are doing for our Marija Annunzjata Band Club and Tarxien our beloved village.
