L-Għanja tal-Poplu

L-Għanja tal-Poplu
Genre	Pop music, folk music, classical music, etc.
Location(s)	Malta
Years active	1973–present
Founded by	Youth Travel Circle
Website
http://www.ghanjafest.com/

L-Għanja tal-Poplu (People's Ode Song Contest) is a popular Maltese song festival first organized by Youth Travel Circle (YTC) on 5 May 1973 at the St. Albert College in Valletta. The founder of YTC is Rev.Maurice Mifsud. Initially the Festival was restricted for YTC members. From 1987 onward, the Festival took a national dimension. Non YTC members were allowed to compose, write and sing in this festival, as long as the lyrics were in the Maltese language. In the nineties the festival started being transmitted on local television stations. It still is. In 2010 the Malta Arts Fund of the Government of Malta began to offer some financial support to the festival. As from 2013 various local radio stations started transmitting special programmes dedicated to this festival. In 2015 the festival was transmitted on Malta's Public Broadcasting Services through its Radio and Television Channels.

On 26 February 2016 at a press conference held in Spazju Kreattiv in Valletta, Mr. Albert Marshall, Chairman of the Malta Arts Council, announced that " L-Ghanja Tal-Poplu-Festival Tal-Kanzunetta Maltija" is scheduled to be held in July 2016.^[1] The festival will now be organised by the committee of L-Għanja tal-Poplu (People's Ode Song Contest), Malta Arts Council, Spazju Kreattiv, and Public Broadcasting Services. It has also the backing of Valletta 2018 European Capital Of Culture and the management of Pjazza Tejatru Rjal where the festival is scheduled to be held on 07 and 9 July 2016.^[2]

Recent winners

• 2015 - 21 March 2015 -
  • 1st place Ecca Muscat : "Ġismi" (written by Mark Pellicano and composed by Matthew Pellicano)
  • 2nd place: Raquel (Galdes) : "Ċans Ieħor" (written by Daniel Paul Farrugia and composed by Norbert Borg)
  • 3rd place: Rita Pace : "Battibekk" (written by Emil Calleja Bayliss & Paul Attard and composed by Rita Pace)
  • Best New Young Talent: Abstract Acoustic Duo - "Niftakarna" (written and composed by Gabriel Cassar)
  • Best Singer/Songwriter: Rita Pace for "Battibekk" (written by Emil Calleja Bayliss & Paul Attard and composed by Rita Pace)
  • Best Social Theme: Mark Pellicano : "Ġismi" sung by Ecca Muscat (written by Mark Pellicano and composed by Matthew Pellicano)
  • Best Interpretation Award: Mark Cachia : "Waqt Li Qed Nitfi D-Dawl" (written and composed by Mark Cachia)
• 2014 - 15 March 2014 -
  • 1st place: Karen DeBattista : "Jien Ma Naħdimx" (written by Rita Pace and composed by Mark Scicluna)
  • 2nd place: Frank O'Neill, Christabelle Curmi & Il-Lajks : "Kif Xrobbtuli L-Menti" (written and composed by Frank O'Neill)
  • 3rd place: Miriam Christine & Olivia Lewis : "Wara L-Kanċell" (written by Joe Julian Farrugia and composed by Miriam Christine)
  • Best New Young Talent: Denise Spiteri - "Pupa" (written and composed by Mark Laurence Zammit)
  • Best Singer/Songwriter: Frank O'Neill for "Kif Xrobbtuli L-Menti" (written and composed by Frank O'Neill)
  • Best Social Theme: Rita Pace : "Il-Quċċata" sung by 7 Spadi" (written by Rita Pace and composed by Jeffrey Scicluna)
  • Best Interpretation Award: Christian Arding : "Il-Karba Tal-Mument" (written by Kevin Tanti and composed by Chan Vella)
• 2013 - 20 April 2013 -
  • 1st place Cherise Attard : "Hawn Siġġu Nieqes" (written by Paul Ellul and composed by Mark Spiteri Lucas)
  • 2nd place: Dorothy Muscat : "Signor Si" (written by Joe Julian Farrugia and composed by Sammy Galea)
  • 3rd place: Rita Pace : "Pupazz" (written by Emil Calleja Bayliss and composed by Rita Pace)
  • Best New Talent: Fiona Camilleri - "Taħnina" (written and composed by Robert Carbonaro)
  • Best Singer/Songwriter: Sylvan Borg for "Il-Maltin Bil-Politika Mehdijin" sung by Justin Galea u Banda Briganti written by Keith Muscat and composed by Sylvan Borg
  • Best Social Theme: Estelle Fenech Imbroll : "Virtwali" (written by Paul Attard and composed by Mark Scicluna)
  • Best Interpretation Award: X-Tend : "Kuluri Lwien" (written and composed by Charles Dalli)
• 2012 - 21 April 2012 -
  • 1st place KulTural : "Malta Tiegħi" (written and composed by KulTural)
  • 2nd place: Grecia Bezzina : "Tal-Komma Twila" (written by Emil Calleja Bayliss and composed by Dario Bezzina)
  • 3rd place: Kantilena : "Baħħâr" (written and composed by Drinu Camilleri)
  • Best New Talent: Mistura - "Isma' Bilfors" (written and composed by Antonio Olivari)
  • Best Singer/Songwriter: Drinu Camilleri for "Baħħâr" (written and composed by Drinu Camilleri)
  • Best Social Theme: Rita Pace : "Kwadru Jew Tond" (written and composed by Rita Pace)
  • Best Interpretation Award: Maria Debono : "Mhux Illum" (written by Rita Pace and composed by Mark Laurence Zammit)
• 2011 - The festival was not held.
• 2010 - Corazon u l-Ħbieb tal-Qalb : "Mill-Għajnejn ta' Tifla" (written and composed by Corazon Mizzi)
• 2009 - Corazon and Walter Micallef : "Tal-Aħħar" (written and composed by Corazon Mizzi)
• 2008 - Brikkuni : "L-Uffiċċju" (written and composed by Brikkuni)
• 2007 - Corazon : "Hawn Jien" (written and composed by Corazon Mizzi)
• 2006 - J. Anvil : "Kyrie Eleison" (written by Giovann Attard and composed by Augusto Cardinali)
• 2005 - Julie Pomorski : "Żewġ Qagħqiet" (written and composed by Augusto Cardinali)
• 2004 - Ina Robinich : "Wellidni" (written by Deo Grech and composed by Dominic Cini)
• 2003 - Julie Zahra & Ludwig Galea : "Sebgħat Ilwien" (written by Anabel Spiteri and composed by Felicienne Fenech Caruana)
• 2002 - Philip Vella : "Fil-Każ, Grazzi" (written by Joe M. Farrugia and composed by Philip Vella)
• 2001 - Frans Baldacchino (Budaj) and Priscilla Psaila : "Tisimgħu Tissaħħar" (written by Frans Baldacchino and composed by Priscilla Psaila)
• 2000 - Glen Vella and Eleanor Cassar : "It-Tfal ta' Llum" (written by Paul Ellul and composed by Chan Vella)
• 1999 - Triccas : "Il-Karrakka" (written by Mario F. Caruana and composed by Renato Briffa)
• 1998 - Philip Vella : "Kemm Jien Beżżul" (written by Joe M. Farrugia and composed by Philip Vella)
• 1997 - Enzo Gusman : "It-Tijatru" (written and composed by Enzo Gusman)
• 1996 - Mark Tonna : "Allerġija għall-Bnedmin" (written and composed by Rene Mamo)
• 1995 - John Bundy : "Pajjiż tal-Miki Maws" (written and composed by Martin Attard)
• 1994 - Walter Micallef : "In-Nofsinhar" (written and composed by Walter Micallef)
• 1993 - Fr. Paul Buhagiar : "Il-Ħolma tal-Għaqda" (written and composed by Fr. Paul Buhagiar)
• 1992 - Walter Micallef : "Iż-Żmien" (written and composed by Walter Micallef)
• 1991 - The festival was not held.
• 1990 - Manwel Mifsud : "Inti" (written and composed by Manwel Mifsud)
• 1989 - The festival was not held.
• 1988 - The festival was not held.
• 1987 - The Greenfields : "Aħna l-Maltin" (written and composed by Joe Tanti)
• 1986 - Mario Debono : "Il-Pappa" (written and composed by Mario Debono)
• 1985 - Julie Brincat : "Niftakar Fil-Bierah" (written and composed by Julie Brincat)
• 1984 - Manwel Mifsud : "Carmelina" (written and composed by Manwel Mifsud)
• 1983 - Manwel Mifsud : "April" (written and composed by Manwel Mifsud)
• 1982 - "Sqallija" (written and composed by Joe Morana)
• 1981 - "Mineral Astratt" (written and composed by Manwel Scicluna)
• 1980 - Mario Debono : "Noli" (written and composed by Mario Debono)
• 1979 - Walter Micallef : "Guvni" (written and composed by Walter Micallef)
• 1978 - "Il-Gid Taz-Zmien" (written and composed by George Cassola)
• 1977 - Walter Micallef : "Hondoq Ir-Rummien" (written and composed by George Cassola)
• 1976 - Manwel Mifsud : "Jghid Il-Bidwi" (written and composed by Manwel Mifsud)
• 1975 - Manwel Mifsud : "Ghanja Lill-Liberta'" (written by Manwel Mifsud and composed by Phyllis Mifsud)
• 1974 - Manwel Mifsud : "Ir-Rahal Tieghi" (written and composed by Manwel Mifsud)
• 1973 - Charles Azzopardi : "Il-Warda" (written and composed by Charles Casha)

References

1. PBS - TVM.COM.MT On-Line : http://www.tvm.com.mt/en/news/l-40-edizzjoni-tal-40th-edition-of-ghanja-tal-poplu-in-collaboration-with-pbsghanja-tal-poplu-bkollaborazzjoni-mal-pbs/ Retrieved 10 April 2016
2. escflasmalta On-Line: http://www.escflashmalta.com/index.php/music-news/local-music-scene-news/item/4362-ghtp-2016-rules-and-regulations-published. Retrieved: 10April2016

External links

• Festival homepage (In Maltese)
• Facebook page