History of the Beland Band Club – Zejtun, Malta
The Beland Band of Zejtun can proudly trace its musical roots to, at least as far back as 1829. By this date the Zejtun Orchestra was already functioning under the direction of its founder Mro GioBatta Diacono, a cotton merchant who had close familiar ties with the Italian seaport city of Livorno. It was him, who around the year 1829, brought over to Malta from Naples, the distinguished musician and composer Mro Michelino De Ferraris to organise and compose for this orchestra. Around the year 1860 Mro De Ferraris was again prominent in helping GioBatta’s son Orazio, transform the orchestra into one of Malta’s foremost bands - the Beland Band. Recent research at the parish church’s archives have already established that the band was already active in 1860. Having had such a sound musical roots, the band progressed rapidly and was already entertaining the people at feasts in Ghaxaq(1867) and in Valetta and Rabat(1870). However pride of place for the Beland Band since its foundation has always been its participation in the Good Friday pageant at Zejtun. Several funeral marches composed as early as 1861 are a proof of this. In 1897 the band passed into the able hands of MroCarlo Diacono, the founder’s son, and later to become one of Malta’s distinguished composer of sacred music.
The first half of the last century saw the Beland Band under the direction of well known bandmasters, consolidating itself by participating in practically every village festa, government organised festivities and other special occasions in honour of reigning British monarchs. The second half of the last century saw the Beland Band celebrating its first centenary with a spectacular programme of classical music attended to by the highest civil and ecclesiastical authorities in Malta. Since this memorable event the Beland Band never looked back and with the backing of a hard working Committee and enthusiastic members and supporters,several projects came true.
In 1973 a new embroidered ‘bandalora’ was blessed by His Lordship the Apostolic Nuncio Mgr. E.Gerada and presented to the band. Special mention must be made to the artistic bandstand inaugurated in May 1978 by the then President of the Republic Dr.Anton Buttigieg and blessed by His Grace the Archbishop Sir Michael Gonzi. It is a truly fine example of Maltese craftsmanship. Also worthy of mention is the beautiful mahagony archives holding the real treasures of the Beland Band, a gift of the youth section in 1986.
It contains numerous musical scores some of which dating back to the first days of the band’s foundation. In this same year the Beland Band celebrated its 125th.Anniversary with great celebrations including a grand band programme in the city’s main square.
The 90’s saw the Beland Band’s dream comes true. In 1994 the Beland Society was twinned with the German Beland Society in Monchengladbach and as a result the Band was invited to participate in the official reopening of Rheydt Castle - the former property of Grand Master Ferdinand Hompesch’s mother - Baroness Isabella von Bylandt (Beland). Hence the name Bylandt (Beland) which Grandmaster Hompesch himself bestowed upon Zejtun with the title of ‘Citta’ Beland’ in 1797.
In 1997 the town of Zejtun celebrated with great pomp the 200 Anniversary of this historic occasion in which the Beland Band and Society played a leading role. Special guests of honour were members of the German Beland Society who flew over to Malta for this special occasion.
In 1995 the Beland Band was the first and ever Maltese band, so far, to have visited the Russian Federation and extending its repertoire to cities such as Moscow and St.Petersburg. The last tour in 1998 took the Beland Band to neighbouring Italy in a most successful musical venture to the lake city of Como and surrounding cities. Amongst the bandmasters who directed the Beland Band we find Mro Angelo Mifsud, Ignazio Catania, Antonio Miruzzi, Carmelo Scicluna, Carmelo Baldacchino, Hector H.Dalli, Orazio Cachia, Frank Mercieca and present director Ray Sciberras. Some of these started their musical career with the same band.
The seat of the Beland Band is a former palace owned by the Diacono family and for many years the residence of GioBatta Diacono. It is situated just opposite the magnificent baroque church of St.Catherine of Alexandria, patron saint of Zejtun. The ground floor is used as a meeting place for club members and their friends, while the upper floor houses the band’s treasures and glorious history. Pride of place is the lovely chapel dedicated to the Sacred Heart and the main hall named after Carlo Diacono.
The whole building is worth visiting, especially during the festa days, when the celebrations by the Beland Band accompanied by its numerous and faithful supporters reach their peak on the third Sunday in June - the feast of St.Catherine V. M. of Alexandria whose liturgical Feast however falls on the 25th Of November.