Għanafest 2008, a vivid programme of traditional music, will be held over the weekend at Argotti Gardens in Floriana, offering a unique opportunity to experience different styles and expressions of Maltese folk music.
The festival also includes vibrant performances by flamenco ensemble Krama from Valencia and by Uaragniaun with a selection of Italian folk roots from the region of Puglia in Italy.
"Għanafest offers the opportunity to experience an important aspect of Maltese heritage in an entertaining fashion," the festival's artistic director Ruben Zahra said. Over the past decade, Mr Zahra took an active role in reviving Maltese traditional instruments.
Most people associate għana with spirtu pront (quick wit), which is an improvised form of song duel. However, there are at least two other major styles, which will be represented in the festival: tal-fatt (factual), a composed narrative that may be fictional or based on true events, and fil-għoli (high-pitched), a style of singing on a high vocal register.
Besides għana, the festival also includes a programme of Maltese guitar music, known as Daqq tal-Prejjem, where the role of the għannej (singer) is replaced by the lead guitarist who embellishes the music with a vibrant sequence of melodic patterns.
The traditional Maltese instruments are the highlight of a concert by the Nafra folk ensemble and also form part of a special performance by Andrew Alamango. The programme also includes a concert by Walter Micallef u l-ħbieb as a good example of Maltese song, which comments on the contemporary Maltese social context.
"The value of our unique heritage is also derived from the relationship we share with similar traditions," Mr Zahra said to emphasise that Maltese folk music is part of a larger Mediterranean cultural identity.
Besides għana, the festival will include performances by two established foreign ensembles. These bands have been very carefully selected in view of the similarity between flamenco chant, traditional Italian village songs and għana.
Another important level to this common territory is that both ensembles portray a bagpipe tradition, which is similar to the Maltese instrument, iż-żaqq. Food and beverage stands, as well as retail stalls related to Maltese crafts and folklore, will be mounted for the festival.
Another important item is a sequence of informal seminars on folk music. The foreign ensembles will demonstrate various aspects, portraying their own tradition, while Maltese folklorists will deliver a presentation on the local traditional instruments.
The Malta Mediterranean Folk Music Festival is dedicated to Ġorġ Mifsud Chircop, former artistic director of the festival, who passed away last December.
The festival is supported by the Malta Council for Culture and the Arts, the Education and Culture Ministry and the National Lottery Good Causes Fund. It will be held on Friday, Saturday and Sunday, starting at 7 p.m.
Tickets cost €2 (Lm0.86).