Kadanza

(full programme)

For the fourth consecutive year, Victoria University hosted this year’s Manoel de Vilhena Awards, which were presented on the 5th of December 1998 at its St Albans Campus in Melbourne's Western Suburbs.
 
This annual event acknowledges the contribution and achievements of individual members to the community.
 
This year, the theme for this event was about the journey the Maltese took in various periods throughout the 20th century. Journeys before, during and after the war, and the journey of emigration; namely building a future in a new land and Malta re-visited. The songs were purely based on the ghana themes, Re/do, Fa tan-Nofs Ton, Il-Minore (Tal-Fatt), L-Għana Fil-Għoli etc.
 

Introduction

Kadanza ... il-vjaġġ ta’ leħen wirtna
Kadanza ... the spirit of Maltese Heritage in Flight
Editorial by Tony Pirotta, Vice President
 
It is of utmost importance that in a multicultural community such as Australia’s different cultures maintain, develop and share with others that which is indigenously theirs. In this way people outside that culture can learn, understand and begin to appreciate the many colours that make up Australia and the world. ‘Kadanza’ is being presented tonight because it wants to maintain, develop and share Maltese heritage with non-Maltese.
 

Maltese identity. For them they became a sort of ‘security blanket’ which brought them together as brothers and sisters, which allowed them to dream, have hope, find strength and express themselves in a uniquely Maltese warm and hospitable way in an environment which was often cold and hostile.
 
Most of our ancestors have now integrated into their new world. They are now Maltese-Australian. However the fact remains that they came from Malta, and their spirit is now wanting us to tell others about it. For this reason we want to share Maltese ways and Maltese heritage with fellow second and subsequent generation Maltese and with non-Maltese. What our ancestors did in the coffee shops, in their homes, at parties and at other social gatherings, we now want to recreate and reshape on stage perhaps in a Maltese-Australian manner.
 
In this way we hope to graft Australia’s multicultural growth with a slice of Maltese culture. We hope to keep alive the heritage that our ancestors brought to Australia so that we can pass it on to our children who are Australians with a Maltese bloodline. We hope to instil in our people a sense of pride when they share what is uniquely theirs. We are the ones living in this time and space so we are the only ones who can give and share this part of the journey - the journey of the Maltese spirit in flight.
 
Tonight in traditional Maltese hospitality we welcome you. We invite you to experience the unique sounds of the Maltese language and Maltese traditional folklore music with us. We invite those of you who have never heard Maltese Ghana (pronounced aana) before, to hear it for the first time, in its most original form in the beginning of tonight’s production and in its modernised form as the night proceeds. We invite you to laugh with us, to join us in our community singing, and to share with us some touching and tender moments.
 
Sit back and enjoy.
 

 
A symbiotic relationship ...
Victoria University and the Maltese
by Professor Jarlath Ronayne, Vice-Chancellor and President

Victoria University is honoured and proud to be hosting the Manoel de Vilhena Awards for the fourth consecutive year. Like Harmonic 65, the University is committed to serving the Maltese Community, and the annual Awards provide the perfect opportunity to celebrate the community’s achievements and to acknowledge the contribution of community members.
 

background youth to review the achievements of second and third generation Maltese-Australians, and to identify priorities and strategies in the areas of language and culture, education and training, employment and welfare. The Forum was convened by Professor Maurice Cauchi, Visiting Professor from the University of Malta.
 
Most of you will be familiar with our Exchange Agreement with the University of Malta. which in the ten years since its signing, has facilitated an active exchange program involving both staff and students. Other visitors from the University of Malta to visit Victoria University this year included Dr Lydia Sciriha, who is continuing a research project with Associate Professor Helen Borland, Head of Victoria University’s Department of Communication, Language and Cultural Studies, Currently, Victoria University PhD candidate Ms Victoria Borg is working at the University of Malta under the Exchange Agreement, collecting data for her PhD thesis in Psychology.
 
In addition, there is a regular exchange of undergraduate students, and I anticipate that exchanges at this level will continue to increase as students realise the opportunity afforded by the University’s global connections.
 
To co-ordinate our connections with Europe, earlier this year the University established the Europe-Australia Institute in February of this year. The Director of the Institute is Professor Brian Matthews, former Director of the Menzies Centre for Australian Studies in London, and the Deputy Director, Professor Ron Adams, is well known to you all for his work in promoting our close relationship with the Maltese community.
 
Our involvement with the University of Malta and with the local Maltese community, is at the heart of the Institute’s activities. Through such initiatives, Victoria University is continuing to expand the opportunities available to our students and to the communities we serve. The Maltese community - particular, is well placed to take advantage of these opportunities.
 

Opening narration

 
Guitars - Gary Camilleri, Tony Chircop, Ernie Muscat, Paul Preston
Percussion - Joe Falzon
Narrator - Joe Saliba
 
Il-Ħajja fir-Raħal (Village Life)
L-Għana tal-Banju (Għana at the Washing Fountain)
 
The village bench in the village corner is the resting place for the hard working locals. Here the farmer stops for a spell from his hard toil. The old men stop to chat and reminisce. The village lay-abouts stop for a smoke and a gossip. The women stop to rest from carrying their load of washing on their way to l-Għajn tal-Hasselin (The Washing Fountain). At the village bench, Ġanna and Marija two għana lovers sing 'L-Għana tal-Banju' and later on sing some Old Ghana with the boys. This scene culminates when Lieni gives a touching rendition of Ave Maria based on the Għana fil-għoli theme.
 
* Ganna - Trixie Portelli * Marija - Rita Camilleri * Nardu - Ben Soler * Wenzu - Vic Smith * Cikku - Percy Smith * Lieni - Joan Drago.
 
Il-Gwerra (The War)
 
In the dialogue, Nardo the gregarious street seller teases Wenzu the farmer that selling farm produce on the streets is harder than farming. To complicate matters, Ċikku the normally quiet and shy tinsmith joins in and tries to convince Nardu and Wenzu that he has the hardest job of all. Perhaps this three-way bunfight is one way of how these mates manage to cope with their memories of the war. In the għanja based on the theme ‘Fa tan-Nofs Ton’ the għannejja flash back and relive some of the horrific war scenes of massive onslaughts on Malta and the Maltese people. Nardu is adamant that there is only one reason why the Maltese people never got beaten by their enemies - because they placed their trust in God.
 
* Narda - Ben Safer * Wenzu - Vic Smith * Ċikku - Percy Smith * Ragel - Charles Vassallo * Tfajla - Vicki Zammit * Mara - Rita Camilleri
 
Lanċa Ġejja Sketch (The Ferry is Coming Sketch)
 
The Maltese hove always had their own brand of community singing. This could be one song or a medley of songs that people would sing in picnics or in any other happy community celebration. The songs are infectious and usually entice all present to join in. Tourists visiting the Maltese islands often ask "What is the song about? ... while trying to follow the merriment it creates. Can YOU find out what this song is about?
 
* Nardu - Ben Soler * Ċikku - Percy Smith * Tourist - John Mifsud * Wenzu - Vic Smith
 
Academic Recognitions
Mr Tony Pirotta - Vice President Harmonic 65 Culture Club Inc.
Mr Clemente Zammit - Consul General for Malta
Dr Eddie Fenech Adami - Prime Minister of Malta
Ms Jennifer Attard - Maltese Language VCE Graduate
Mr Marco Calleja - Maltese Language VCE Graduate
 
Manoel de Vilhena Award Presentations
 
Biographies Elizabeth Attard, Raphael Sammut, Karen Seychell
Awards His Excellency Mr Colin Willis - Australian High Commissioner for Malta
Mr Clemente Zammit - Consul General for Malta
Prof. Jarlath Ronayne - Vice-Chancellor & President Victoria University of Technology
Mr Manwel Ciappara - Chief Representative Bank of Valletta plc
 

Intermission

The journey to Australia started at Grand Harbour as migrants crossed from Customs House by Launch or ‘Dghajsa’ onto the waiting ship. Through the 'Minore’ theme used to recount sad stories and actualities, the young mother and father express their sorrow as they boarded the ship and sailed towards the horizon, leaving those beloved Maltese Islands behind. After the interlude the focus changes on how both mother and father worked hard so that one day they might buy their own home and build a better future. The merry change of mood in the last movement conveys the joys of the migrant family when it revisits Malta after years of incessant hard work.
 
* Young Mother - Leanne Castle * Young Father - Steven Seychell

L-Emigrant (The Migrant)
 
This number introduces another type of ghana called ‘parlant’ in which instead of singing, the ghannej tells his story by narrating it at the tempo of the music over the theme ‘L-Ghanja tas-Suffara’. In this number, the migrant ghannej reminisces about when he came to Australia alone to set rip an abode so that he could eventually send for his wife and children Bath him and his wife worked tirelessly to raise their family, however throughout his 42 years in Australia this ghannej visited his beloved Malta several times. Now his children are settled. He relaxes. He and his wife lap up the toils at their labour. His only wish is that God gives him and his wife a few more years so that they can enjoy their children and their families.
 
* Ghannej Percy Smith

Lanca Gejja Medley (The Ferry is Coming Medley)
 
The foreign influence an Maltese Folklore has been significant over the centuries Several community songs, which the Maltese now consider their own, originated in Southern Europe, Spain. Italy and Sicily. These songs became ‘traditions’ in picnics, community gatherings and celebrations and remain so to date. This medley features a few of these songs which have been especially arranged for this occasionn.
 
* Pat Colaci * Vic Smith

Taqbiliet tat-tfal u l-Ghanja tan-Naghas (Children’s Rhymes and Lullaby)
 
A guardian and three young children play, laugh and recite some traditional children’s rhymes This innocent and playful scene culminates in the tender rendition of a specially arranged traditional Maltese lullaby by the Guardian who is accompanied by four young guitarists.
 
* Guardian - Carol Camilleri-Borg * Children - Justin Vella Rachael Borg - Monica Camilleri *Guitarists - Manwel Bonnett - Mark Pirotta - Romaine Pirotta - Rachel Xerri
 

Magna Taz-Zmien u Muntagg (Time Machine & Montage)
 
In this poem a spirit says that over time it finds its true identity through story-telling, music, song and dance. It is through these universal media and back in the time where this story-telling was rife that it discovers its true identity ... the spirit at Maltese heritage. After this poem, a montage of some musical themes presented during the night and a slide presentation bring the night to its conclusion.
 
The Harmonic 65 Dancers * Nardu - Ben Soler * Lieni - Joan Drago

End