|
Although Malta is a small island in the middle of the Mediterranean Sea with a small population, it is nonetheless rich in its history and its culture. When in the 1950s, in nearby Italy the San Remo Festival, and later in Switzerland, the Eurovision Song Contest came into existence, Malta soon followed suit by organizing its own National Song Festival. == Origins and other festivals in Malta== The first Malta Song Festival was organized by the Maltese section of the Young Christian Workers movement in 1960. Out of 72 submissions, 20 were chosen for the two semi finals. Eventually 10 made it for the final of Saturday 5 November 1960. All shows were held at the Radio City Opera House in Hamrun and were transmitted on the island’s cable radio system, now extinct, and then better known as Rediffusion. Eight of the ten songs were sung in Italian, one in English and one in Maltese. Each song had to be presented with two different musical arrangements. It was also a requisite to have two different singers for each song.〔The GO Eurosong 2010, PBS TVM Souvenir Brochure, "The First Malta Song Festival 1960" by Tony Micallef〕 On 14 November 1960 RAI TV transmitted a video coverage of the festival in its evenings news bulletin.〔Noel D'Anastasi, Il-Festa 2013,Ghaqda Tal-Muzika San Gejtanu, Hamrun, P.89〕 As far back as 1960 the organizers of the festival were already planning to send the winner to the "Eurovision Song Contest". But the time was not yet ripe for such a dream to materialise.〔Il-Berqa, Minn Korrispondent, date unavailable. Noel D'Anastasi, Il-Festa 2013,Ghaqda Tal-Muzika San Gejtanu, Hamrun, P.89〕 In December 1961 the same Young Christian Workers movement organized also the first "Festival Ta' Kanzunetti Maltin" (Festival Of Maltese Songs)". The songs in this festival were all sung in the Maltese language. Although it was organized again in 1962, but after the 1962 edition, a decision was taken that the "Festival Ta' Kanzunetti Maltin" (Festival Of Maltese Songs)" would no longer be held.〔Noel D'Anastasi, Il-Festa 2013,Ghaqda Tal-Muzika San Gejtanu, Hamrun, P.90〕 In 1963 a decision was taken by the Malta Song Festival Board, that it was no longer feasible to organize two separate festivals. Instead it was decided that every song should be presented on stage in two languages, one of which should in Maltese.〔History Of the Malta Song Festival. ZHN Malta Song Festival 1966, Souvenir Booklet〕 In 1964, the Malta Song Festival was transmitted for the first time on the Malta Television Service on November 16, 17 and 21. The final results were however announced in a presentation ceremony held and transmitted also on Malta Television on Wednesday 25 November 1964 〔Times Of Malta 23 November 1964, 9〕 In 1967, Rediffusion Malta, managed to issue the first long playing album of Maltese compositions, entitled "Malta Song Festival 1967". Joe Grima and Victor Aquilina, then Head Of Programmes and Assistant Head Of Programmes respectively of Rediffusion Malta, were the producers of this first 33 RPM of Maltese songs. In 1967 and 1968 Rediffusion Malta fully financed the festival.〔Gaetano Abela, Joe Grima , Message From The Organisers, Malta Song Festival 1968, Souvenir Booklet.〕 During the same period the late author and composer from Rabat, Malta, John B. Cassar,who was a pharmacist and a teacher by profession, had set up an enterprise called "Tourist Revues" . They were the organizers of "The Malta International Song Festival" 〔The Times Of Malta, 24 June 1969, by Fred Barry, Page 11〕 which had nothing to do with the "Malta Song Festival". They also used to organize "Festival Della Canzone Italiana A' Malta". The 1966 edition of this festival was held at the Alhambra Theatre in Sliema and was even recorded and transmitted by RAI TV.〔The Times Of Malta, 02 May 1966, 12.〕 In the 1969 edition of the "Malta International Song Festival" held at the Hilton Hotel in St' Julians, David Bowie was one of the participants.〔http://www.bowiewonderworld.com/tours/tour58.htm Accessed 14Sep2013〕 On the 17 November 1973 "Jove Enterprises" together with Vanni Pule`, Maryanne Xuereb, John Portelli, Joe P. Portelli and others organized the first edition of the "Folk Song Contest" at the Chameleon Suite of the Corinthia Hotel in Attard. The then Malta Government Tourist Board gave its assistance to the organizers of this festival which was also held in 1975 and 1976.〔Il-Mument, 24 November 2013,page 26, by Noel D'Anastasi.〕 In 1973, the Youth Travel Circle, a youth organization led by Rev. Fr. Maurice Mifsud., organized the first edition of another festival L-Għanja tal-Poplu (People's Ode Song Contest) . The songs of this very popular song festival are all sung in the Maltese Language . Against all odds, L-Għanja tal-Poplu (People's Ode Song Contest) has not only managed to survive, but it has even donned a National perspective. Since the nineties, this festival has been regularly transmitted on local television stations. In 1986, the "Konkors Kanzunetta Festa San Pawl" was the first song festival ever to be held in a church in Malta. The songs all had a religious theme. The festival was held at the Church of St. Paul in Valletta.〔On-Line: http://www.sanpawlvalletta.com/Downloads/Librerija.html Accessed 24Aug2014〕 Worthwhile pointing out is the fact that the original organizers of the first editions of the Malta Song Festival, namely the Maltese section of the Young Christian Workers are still very much active in the Malta music scene. In fact, on the 09 and 10 October 2015 they organized the 14th. edition of "Strummin', an annual non-competitive music show incorporating a choir a some 63 guitarists, a band and a group of singers.〔Strummin' What a Feelin', Show Programme, 09 & 10 October 2015, Sir Temi Zammit Hall, University Of Malta.〕 抄文引用元・出典: フリー百科事典『 ウィキペディア（Wikipedia）』 ■ウィキペディアで「Malta Song Festival」の詳細全文を読む スポンサード リンク
|