Email : carmelitesociety@yahoo.com

Website: www.carmelitesocietyzurrieq.com

 

There was no official and formal foundation of the Band. It evolved from what was formally a church orchestra.  For this reason we do not have a specific date of foundation.  We are however certain that the band, then known as Societa' Filarmonica Del Zurrico existed in the year 1865 and that Mro. Francesco Zammit was its first director . (conductor). Since then, the Band made a name for itself and now it is one of the most popular in Malta.

 

In the year 1908 the band then under the presidency of the Noble Charles Dei Marchesi Zimmerman Barbaro, himself a staunch anglophile, changed its name to Regina Victoria (Queen Victoria)as it is still presently known. This change in name was as a consequence of the donation by its president of two new sets of uniforms, one for winter and the other for summer occasions. These elaborate and beautiful uniforms can still be seen in the small but interesting museum of the band and its premises.

In the first two decades of the twentieth century the band was very active. In the village of Zurrieq it continued to participate in the annual festives held in honor of Our Lady and in 1910 also took part in the feast of St. Catherine then still held in the month of November, thus being the only band to participate in the two feasts of the village. For a number of years that is between 1920 and 1946 it was the only band in existence in the village.

 

NEW PREMISES

Both the members in general and all the committees in particular had throughout the years cherished the idea of one day purchasing the premises and in its stead build a club premises worthy of a society and band of such standing and long history. This dream materialized in 1993 when after lengthy negotiations the society and band club purchased the premises occupied by them and storerooms situate just at the rear and adjacent to the club premises. With great vigor and in the ample space now available build a new club designed on classical lines of architecture. The foundation stone was solemnly laid by the President of the Republic Doctor Ugo Mifsud Bonnici. The society and band hope to complete this grand project in the near future.

FEAST CELEBRATIONS

The Carmelite Society and Queen Victoria Band Club presently organises all the outdoor festive for the feast of Our Lady Of Mount Carmel. The Club invites number of guest bands to play in the village on various days of the week. The band itself then presents a formal classical program on the band stand in the main square. The club also owns a fireworks factory when a number of volunteers manufacture all the fireworks manufacture all the fireworks that are let off during the festa work. Following here is a list of activities held during the festa week.

Sunday preceding the feast. The Statue of Our Lady of Mt. Carmel is carried into the parish church from the adjacent oratory. Before this ceremony the band holds a short march through the principal streets of the village. 

Monday: Band march by guest band.

Tuesday: Band march by guest band.

Wednesday: The Queen Victoria Band presents a classical music concert on the artistic bandstand in the main square.

Thursday: Band march by guest band.

Friday: The Queen Victoria Band marches throughout the main streets of the village.

Saturday: Guest Band presents a short musical program followed after with the guest band and the Queen Victoria Band form a massed band.

Sunday: Proper feast day. In the morning the Queen Victoria Band Club holds a marathon march throughout the village. In the evening while the procession winds its way through the village, three guest bands play marches at various places in the village.

 

Throughout these activities petards and colorful fireworks are let off. Of particular mention are pyrotechnical displays on Saturday evening and Sunday evening.

For the occasion of the feast the club decorates the major streets of the village. The decorations take the form of sculptured wooden columns into which are appended banners and flags also pedestals on which are placed statues, angels holding lights or large candelabra. The streets are lit by means of thousand of electric light bulbs. 

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