Mro. JULIO TANTI
Julio Tanti was
born in Mqabba on the 20th July 1934, son of John and Karmena nee
Ghigo. He started his music lessons under Mro Joseph Darmanin. At 11, he made
his debut with the Lily Band, during its first programme in December 1945,
playing the Quartino. In 1953 he obtained his diploma, proceeding with further
study under Mro Carmelo Pace and Mro Abela Scolaro. He spent some years playing
the piano with Jimmy Dowling at the Phoenicia Hotel. Mro Tanti is one of the
founders of ‘Golden Hours”, a quartet performing for the first time in January
1954. He succeeded Mro Darmanin in the Band’s directorship in 1964 till 1980.
At the same time, he was contributing toward the Society’s Drama Company ‘The
Golden Lilies’ by compositions and arrangements for its productions. He won the
competition organised by the Malta Carnival Committee with the march ‘Teddies
in Carnival’ way back in the 1960’s. Mro Tanti was also one of the Presidents
of the Our Lady of Lilies Musical Society. Julio is married to Carmena from
Zurrieq. His children are also musicians. His daughter Marthese, is a well
known local singer , while his sons John and Charles play the piano and drums.
Following, are some of Mro Tanti’s works:
Mayflower,
Caqnu, L.I.F.E., Water Lily, Big Ben’s Melody, York, Three Brothers, Golden
Band Stand, Sputnik, Middle East, It-Torri ta’ Bubaqra, Marthese, Splendid,
Spanish Fiesta, Quo Vadis, John and Charles, Vagabond, Blue Grotto, King,
Kennedy, Prima, Marcellino, Royal, Teddies in Carnival, Nicholai, L-Ewwel Banda
Mqabbija and Golden Jubilee.
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Mro. JOSEPH TONNA
Joseph Tonna was
born in Mqabba on the 16th February 1929. He started learning music
with the Lily Band at the age of 16. At that time, the Band was still in its
initial phase. Tonna is mostly renowned as a performer of Bass in E Flat. Mro
Tonna obtained certificates from various Colleges, followed composition courses
and competed in various competitions. One of his greatest successes was when in
1962 he obtained the third place in an international competition held in London
for music for accordian. On the 11th July 1963, Mro Tonna was
elected Associate Member of the Performing Right Society, continuing his
studies under Mro Abela A. Mus. L.C.M., L.R.S.M. Apart from qualifying at the
London College of Music, Mro Tonna qualified in three other Colleges, namely, the
British College of Accordianists, the Royal School of Music and the Trinity
College of Music. From these institutions, he obtained the final certificate
‘with distinction’.
Mro Tonna also
studied with correspondence under Geoffrey Sayers B. Mus. (Dunelm), F.R.C.O,
A.R.C.M., Hon. F.L.C.M. He also took lessons under the well known Mro Carmelo
Pace F.L.C.M., L.R.S.M., O.S.J. Apart from being an ex-Director of the Lily
Band, Mro Tonna is very well known for a great number of compositions among
which:-
Marches: First
Occasion, Tunnel of Freedom, Surmastrijiet, Evviva l-Banda, Maryanne, Diana,
Stephanie, Ta’ Gakbu, Maria, Silvana, Independence, Serenata, Lily,
Schundelbert, Sweet Roses, L-Erba’ Surmastrijiet.
Military
Marches: Montgomery, Back home from war, Load the Gun, Colonel Strickland, Sir
Winston Churchill, General Eisenhower, Merhba.
Funeral Marches:
La Morte di Gesu’, Last Salut, A Mia Madre.
Overtures: Il
Mondo
Masses: Missa
Grande a Tre Voci: Tenore A, Tenore B, e Basso con Organo.
Dance Forms:
Dark, Night, Marsa Allegra in Fa, Beneath the Moon, Cupid Love, Searching for
Love, Teenager Samba, To Mary, John Polka, Teddy Boy Sound, Maltese Serenade,
Anna Beguine, L-Ghasfur tal-Bejt, On the Hills (Masurka), Anna Polka, Samba del
Tentazion, Serata (Slow Walze), Celestina (Moderate Walze), Walts Brillante,
Il-Pitirross.
Contrapuntal:
Gewwa l-Gnien, Round for two Sopranos and Contralto.
Fugues for
Piano: Fuga in la Bemolle Maggiore, Fuga in Sol Maggiore
A.D. 1911