X'Figolla Jrid

Lejla Maltija has just released a new track entitled 'X'Figolla Jrid?' The film and the song is about the traditional Maltese Easter sweet - Figolla and the custom of men trailing the statue of a risen Christ through the streets as fast as they can dare, cheered on by the crowds. The 'Figolla' is an almond filled pastry often in the form of animals or whatever one may fancy. Keeping the person or child who will receive the sweet in mind, they can accordingly take on the shape of a car or a musical instrument, a character from a fairy tale or a romantic heart. The traditional lamb has now been replaced with football team emblems, even what they call 3D shapes taking over the flat sweet. 

 

Has anyone asked the risen Christ the question 'Which shape of Figolla would you like?'
This is the ironic tale behind the tune in Maltese.

'X'Figolla Jrid?' was recorded at Anidroc Studios and produced by A.M.P. for Lejla Maltija.
Performed by Lejla Maltija.
Music and Lyrics by Mario Cordina for Lejla Maltija

The lyrics in Maltese are by Mario Cordina together with an English translation come below.

X’ Figolla Jrid?

Min jaf L’Irxoxt, x’ figolla jrid?
Issa li nizel minn fuq is-salib.
Ħarġuħ jiġri matt-toroq kollha,
Qalb iċ-ċapċip u’ l-briju tall-folla.

(Who knows which figolla the resurrected Christ wants? Now that he has come down from the cross. They took him out running through all the streets, through the cheering and merriment of the crowds.)
Ġanni jrid figolla fill-forma ta kitarra,
Maria trid sirena,
Qalb bill-bajda taċ-ċikkulata għaz-zija Ċett,
Lin-neputija għamiltilha farfett.   

(Ganni i.e. Joseph, wants a figolla in the shape of a guitar. Maria wants a mermaid. A heart with a chocolate egg for Auntie Cett
and a butterfly, I made for my niece.)


Min qadd saqsiegħ?
X’figolla Jrid?

(Whoever asked Him,
Which Figolla he prefers?)

The video for 'X'Figolla Jrid' is an Anidroc Film for Lejla Maltija. It features the Easter Celebrations in Malta with figollas and the Statue of the Risen Christ tradition in the cities of Bormla, Birgu, Isla and Mosta. An A.M.P. production 2016. All rights reserved.


Photos by Jagoda Beltrani.
Figollas by Anthony Cordina and Jagoda Beltrani.
Pisanki by Jagoda Beltrani.

Is-Sirena Video for Lejla Maltija

Lejla Maltija has posted its video for Is-Sirena out on September 12th.

The video was shot in Malta and mainly features a re-enactment  held at the Saluting Battery below the Upper Barakka Gardens in Valletta Malta, together with shots taken inside the Lascaris War Rooms and Air Raid Shelters around Valletta. The Lascaris War Rooms consist of an underground complex of tunnels and chambers that housed the War Headquarters from where the defence of Malta was conducted during the Second World War. For more info about The Lascaris War Rooms use this link. Obviously the video also features Mario Cordina who is the lead singer and heart behind Lejla Maltija. The Video is an A.M.P. production for Lejla Maltija. The track is an Anidroc Production for Lejla Maltija. Recorded at Anidroc Studios 2014. All rights reserved.

More information about the track, the lyrics and history available here.

Il-Pjazza Baħħ

Lejla Maltija's new release entitled Il-Pjazzetta Baħħ.
An Anidroc Production 2014

Lyrics by Mario Cordina for Lejla Maltija

Fejn hu Pawlu tal-pitrolju, tal-kaxxa tal-qroqqa?
Fejn hu tar-rizzi, u fejn hu tas-silġ tal-blokka?
Ħajja il-volpi u jaqbez il-ħut
Għajnu ħamra it-tonn, Żabbarija it-tut.

Where is Paul the petrol seller, the hawker with the box for the laying hen? 
Where is the sea urchin vendor and the ice block seller?
The volpi is alive and the fish leaps. 
The tuna’s eyes are red, The black berries are from Zabbar. 

The gasoline seller who would sell gasoline mainly for use in heaters during the winter months and other household appliances. Sometimes he would also sell gas cylinders for cookers. The qroqqa, the laying hen guaranteed the freshest eggs available. Sea urchins make a very tasty seafood dish, whilst the ice blog was the only way to preserve food stuffs in people's home in the Maltese summer. This was the customary pitching cry of the fish hawker, that the fish are so fresh that they are still alive and jumping, that the tuna’s eyes are still red and not glassy as is the case with fish caught the previous day.

 Fejn hu Ġianni tal-ħaxix, bil-karretun,
U tal-ħobż frisk, minn haż-Żejtun?
Fejn hi Ċettina bill-kawwara, mimlija bill-kappar?
Ħallas meta tista’,
Imma il-ħin kif tar.

Where is Gianni, the vegetable seller, with his cart, 
The baker with his fresh bread from Zejtun? 
Where is Ċettina with the kawwara, full of capers? 
Pay when you can, But how time has flown. (The vegetable seller normally came around with his donkey carring a cart laden with the latest harvest. The kawwara was a head dress in which goods could be carried and later placed on the ground for customers to choose their kapers or other goods. ‘Pay when you can,’ was a customary way of dealing between customer and seller. The sellers came to the village, even to their customer’s homes and the relationship was one of mutual trust and friendship.

Fejn marru, il-pjazza baħħ.
Baħħ, baħħ, baħħ.

Where have they gone?
The village square is empty.
Empty, empty, empty. 

Fejn hu tal-pastiżżi, sħan u tajbin,
Tlett soldi il-wieħed, erba xelin.
Hawn tal-ġelati, tal-luminati,
Biċ-ċirasa fin-nods,
Bil-lewz u iċ-ċikkulati.

Where is the pastizzi seller, warm and delicious, 
Three pence for one, four for a shilling. 
Here’s the ice-cream seller, the soft drinks seller, 
With the cherry in the middle, 
With nuts and chocolate. 

The pastizzi can be said to be the most favourite pastry amongst the Maltese, filled with ricotta or peas. They are still popular today, although they are rarely sold in the streets now. The ice-cream sellers still take to the streets, although they normally use vending vans now.) Fejn hu ‘l-landier, ramm u hadid, Tal- halib tal moghza, u Wenzu ta l imbid, Fejn hu tal-bajtar, tal-bajtar tax-xewk, L’għajta nofs il-bejgħ, Fejn marru ghalfejn hallewk? Where’s the tin-man, brass and steel, The goat milk vendor and Wenzu the wine seller? Where is the bajtar seller, the bajtar with thorns, The pitch is half a seller’s success, Where did they go to, why did they forsake you? (The tinker or tin-man would visit each village and many would be waiting for him to repair their utensils and pots. He normally sharpened knives and rendered other services. The milk vendor would come around with his goats and milk them in front of his clients who would bring their own bottles and cans. The bajtar is the prickly pear which is much appreciated by the Maltese. Literally, this Maltese saying means that the selling pitch is equivalent to a half sold product.


For more information about Maltese street vendors check this blog.

Watch Il-Pjazza Baħħ performed live by Lejla Maltija on Anidroc Tube.
Check the link below. 

Iċ-Ċombini by Lejla Maltija

Iċ-Ċombini is Lejla Maltija’s new featured release in collaboration with Anidroc Productions. The track is now available at the link below:


The ċombini known as lace bobbins have been part of Malta and Gozo’s heritage since the 16th century. Lace making as a craft is still highly valued by tourists today and it is fascinating to watch the deft hands and fingers of the lace makers working on the ċombini. Maltese lace is distinguished by the eight pointed cross that is often included in its design done in a whole or cloth stitch. Other characteristics include leaves known as wheat ears or oats. To appreciate the craft one should be aware that Maltese lace is made by stitching sections which are rarely wider than 6 inches.

More in-depth information available here!

The barbazzal is a type of Maltese jewellery, normally filigree work, an art that demands a very high level of craftsmanship. Maltese lace and barbazzal was part and parcel of the wedding tradition, no bride would dare get married without. This is the theme behind Lejla Maltija’s Iċ-Ċombini. Use has also been made of a traditional Maltese wedding chant, “Busu, busu, la tistħiex,” which the guests sing to the newly wedded couple during the wedding celebrations encouraging the couple to kiss. Kiss him, kiss him, don’t be shy. The song makes use of various homemade Maltese percussive instruments and the zaqq, a type of bagpipe, traditionally made from a goat skin. The lyrics with their translation and explanation in English follow:

Ċikki Ċikki iċ-ċombini, 
Ċikki Ċikki il-barbazzal,
Il-għarusa minn Ħal-Lija,
U l-għarus minn Ħal-Balzan.

(Ċikki is the onomatopeic sound of the bobbins) 
Clicking, clicking the bobbins, Clicking, 
clicking the barbazzal, 
The bride from Lija, 
The groom from Balzan. 

Ċikki Ċikki iċ-ċombini,
Ċikki Ċikki il-barbazzal,
Għax il-libsa trid tkun lesta,
Għax it-tieġ hija l’akbar festa.

Clicking, clicking the bobbins, 
Clicking, clicking the barbazzal, 
For the dress (the bridal dress) must be ready, 
For the wedding is the greatest feast. 

Ċikki Ċikki iċ-ċombini,
Ċikki Ċikki il-barbazzal,
Ikxef il-velu ta l’għarusa,
Biex l’għarus ikun jista jbusa,

Clicking, clicking the bobbins, 
Clicking, clicking the barbazzal, 
Uncover the bride’s veil, 
So that the groom can kiss her. 

Busu, busu la tistħiex.
Give him a kiss, kiss him, don’t be shy.

Watch Iċ-Ċombini live performed by Lejla Maltija 



Below is some video material with regards to Maltese Lace Making.

Is-Sirena

Lejla Maltija has published its new tune Is-Sirena which deals with Wartime in Malta. The tune is available on this sound cloud link, together with the lyrics and video information. Is-Sirena 
Lyrics and translation: Mario Cordina 

Is-Sirena tolfoq u tingħi karba,
Min jaf lil-minn ser tolqot din id-darba?
Beraq u rgħad tal-polvri fil-Port il-Kbir,
Din il-ġzira zgħira, ulieda ta’ kuraġġ kbir.

The siren sobs and wails in sorrow, 
Who knows who’s turn it is this time? 
Gunpowder lightning and thunder in the Grand Harbour (Valetta’s Port) 
This little island, its outstanding children full of great courage. 

Ara ġejja il-mewt għalik,
Biex taqlik, biex tixwik,
Ara ġejja, ara ġejja,
Din id-daqqa min tagħilek?

This is a child’s chant used during play. They sing this tune and at the end one of the children is slapped by one of the others. The child has to guess who it is. However I find the words connected with death sung by children ringing a dark note and probably rooted in Malta’s wartime experience. In this song it rings out with great irony. 
The translation reads: 
See Death coming to pick you up, 
It will boil, it will roast you, 
See Death come, see it come, 
Who slapped (hit) you? 

Is-sirena tolfoq u tingħi karba,
Għal-dawk ulieda li illum ġew imdarba,
Il-Festa ta Santa Marija dalwaqt magħna,
Il-Konvoy riesaq biex jitmagħna.

The siren sobs and wails in sorrow, In mourning for her children who have lost their life today, The Feast of Santa Marija will soon come, The convoy approaches, it will feed us. The Convoy which actually made it through the Axis barrage into the port saved a starved nation from surrender. The convoy made it into the harbour iin stages during the month of August 1942. The Ohio made it on the 15th August and the convoy has always been dubbed The Santa Maria Convoy.

For the Original Lejla Maltija Video for Is-Sirena Click here.  
Below is a Picture Story about the War in Malta followed by a video compilation about the country's role and involvement as it got caught up in the historic run of events between the Axis and Allied powers.

Jum il-Festa: Lyrics and Translation.

Here are the original lyrics for Jum Il-Festa in Maltese together with an English translation. The song is available on Soundcloud below:

JUM Il-FESTA : Lejla Maltija

Jum Il-festa qisha ġiet il-gwerra, bil-murtali u l-isparar,
Jum Il-festa qisha ġiet il-gwerra, toħrog il-banda bil-azzar.

Jum Il-festa kaxxa infernali, ġigġifogu u il-miġnuna
Jum Il-festa qisha żżanżnet il-libsa, u ż-żarbun bit-takkuna.

Dan huwa il-jum, illum il-jum tal-festa
Għarhom jiċċelebraw, illum il-jum tal-festa
Għarhom jixxalaw illum il-jum tal-festa.

IL-vara u il- pavaljuni,
It- tiżjin u is-sunetti u l-armar,
Imma Joey xorob iżżejjed,
Ma felaħx u baqa' id-dar.

Mario Cordina

The Day of the Feast (The Feast Day)

The day of the feast, it seems as if the war has come, with bombs and shooting.
The day of the feast, it seems that the war has come, the band comes out armed with brass.

On the day of the feast an infernal box, ground fireworks and the Mad Woman,
On the day of the feast she put on a brand new dress and shoes with heels.
(The infernal box, literally translated is the name given to the culmination of the popular fireworks show - normally a series of firecrackers going off in sequence. The Mad Woman is one of the names given to a specific type of ground fireworks. In previous times, the high heeled shoe was considered to be a luxury and only worn on very special occasions.) 

This is the day, the day of the feast,
Watch them celebrate, today the day of the feast,
Watch them party, today the day of the feast.
(The word jixxalaw comes from lunacy, crazy, wild - to party out of control.)

The statue and the pavilions,
The decorations and the rice paper and the 'armar'.
But poor Joey drank a little too much,
He did not feel up to it so he stayed at home.
(The decorations - Tiżjin: are normally very colorful with the flags of the city, Parish, Band Club or Saint - sometimes even the local football club. They are normally flags or cloth, paper, tinsel, lights etc, hanging from balconies, roofs or strung across the street. The 'Armar' is normally of a more sacred nature. This type of decoration features pedestals with statues and effigies of Saints and Angels. As far as drinking is concerned, the banda march through the streets normally takes from 9am to 3pm in the summer heat. So be warned!)

You can see all this for yourself on Youtube - The video features the events and goings on during the Festa.

Jum Il-Festa

Lejla Maltija has published it's new video for the track Jum il-Festa. The day of the feast. The summer months in Malta have traditionally been associated with Parish Church feasts. Apart from the religious celebrations including a grand mass and solemn procession with bearers carrying the life size effigy of the patron saint, the locals also set up colorful and less religious events during the week prior to the procession. The climax is when the local band clubs take to the streets and people join in to sing and dance and party. Fireworks are also part of the program me, including fireworks which are called gigifogu - basically cartwheels which are the pride of the local fireworks factories. There could be as much as five such festas in different parishes during one weekend. The video was taken during three such feasts : San Lawrenz in Birgu, San Gejtanu in Hamrun and Santa Maria in Mosta 2013.

Ix-Xalata

Ix-Xalata is Lejla Maltija's new song. The Maltese summer is a time for celebration. Almost every Parish Church celebrates the feast of it's patron saint. The large number of Churches means that there could be as many as four or five of these feasts per weekend. The feast includes brass bands parading through the streets of the Parish starting on Friday evening, Saturday Morning and Evening with the solemn Parish procession on Sunday. Traditionally the parishers take a day off the following Monday to invade the beach for a full day. The trip to the beach would take a long time as the buses - ix-xarabank were slow and the roads rough. For islanders living in the centre or in the south - the sandy beaches of Mellieha were far away and not an everyday option. This meant that Ix-Xalata was a grand affair with people carrying bags of food and drink, umbrellas, together with their children and neighbours, finally invading the beach till sunset.         

Ix-Xalata

Mgħobbi ix-xarabank,
It-Tnejn filgħodu ta wara il-festa ta l-Annunziata
Mhux ghal gwerra dan it-tank,
Armat bil-qoffi u l-umbrellel għax-xalata

Ix-Xalata

Mgħobbi ix-xarabank,
Nieżel in-niżla ta Alla u Ommu lejn il-bajja tal-Mellieħa,
Igerger qisu tank,
Imma ir-raħlin ma jagħtux kasu f’ din il-ġurnata hekk sabiħa.

Ix-Xalata

It-tnejn ta wara il-festa,
Tal-paroċċa kollha lesta,
Biex jiċċelebraw, u jixxalaw,
Jqajmu il-bajja qishom tempesta.

Lyrics by Mario Cordina for Lejla Maltija

Il-Passi

Lejla Maltija has published another instrumental based on Maltese tunes called il-Passi. The steps taken by Maltese people in their long and enchanting history. The video, produced by Anidroc portrays the wandering paces of a solitary walker through the island of Malta. The music is performed by Mario Cordina for Lejla Maltija and recorded at Anidroc Studios.




Check out these photos used for the video above

Qalb il-Buzbiez

Qalb il-Buzbiez is an orginal tune by Lejla Maltija performed by Mario Cordina on the flute. Pictures by Anidroc.
The wooden flute is one of Malta's folk instruments as is the case with most ancient cultures.The tune is based on Maltese traditional flute harmonies. The pictures are mounted in such a way as to draw attention to the various instruments playing together in this piece. Try to follow which instrument is being emphasised by the pictures.

Buzbiez is the word for fennel. A herb that can be found everywhere on the islands of Malta and a favourite with pasta and sea food dishes. 

The word 'Qalb,' means amongst, at the heart of the fennel. Wied il-Buzbiez is the name of a valley off the limits of Dingli and Rabat. Il-Farfett tal-Buzbiez, an indigenous butterfly, so called because the fennel is its preferred feeding source, is in danger of extinction and has been brought under UNESCO protection.  

Quccarina Addolorata Cemetery.

Quccarina is the old spelling of the Maltese word for tea-spoon. Inspired by a tea spoon vibrating on the guitar in such a way to create a specific sound this is Lejla Maltija's first official recording. Performed by Mario Cordina and recorded at Anidroc Studios, this is an experiment in sound using classical instruments. The video is dedicated to the Addolorata Cemetry near Rahal Gdid and Tarxien. Photos taken by Ramon Casha. Filming  by Ania Cherry Wisnia in collaboration with Kamera NGO. A new Anidroc production

Quccarina: "Playing the guitar using a spoon, requires practice and a little imagination. It turns this string instrument into a percussive one. The melody is inspired by Maltese funeral dirges. The technique was basically inspired by my need to experiment." Mario Cordina 

The guitar must be placed face down and the left hand must hold the chords or notes as in normal guitar use, although the grip needs to be tighter. The right hand delicately hits or rolls or scratches the strings to achieve the desired effect and hit the right note.











Addolorata Cemetry is not a usual stop on a tourist's itinery. It is actually close to one of Malta's greatest attractions, The Tarxien Prehistoric Temples and right on the road to other hotspots, like the sea side village of Marsaxlokk with it's fish market and dainty boats, to Ghar Dalam, a prehistoric cave and to many other places of interest. However Addolorata Cemetry is a unique gem in its own right. 

Built between 1862 and 1868 on Tal-Horr hill which had already been a burial ground since prehistoric times, this monumental cemetery the largest on the islands, has a beautiful Gothic Chapel unique in Malta. From 1869 onwards, burials in churches were prohibited except for special cases as Bishops and Cloistered nuns. This cemetery is full of old Mausoleums and statues in marble and bronze and also contains 268 commonwealth graves from the two world wars.The chapel is run by the Capuchin friars of Marsa under the Authority of the department of Health. Its architect was E.Luigi Galizia, the same person who designed the Ta Braxia Protestant cemetery.

Interestingly the Addolorata was not meant to be a national cemetery but rather a burial place mostly for the towns and villages in the vicinity which had no burial grounds of their own. There was also a reluctance to use it at first and no one was buried here for the first few years of its existence.  Today over 200,000 people are interred here.. 

The Addolorata can perhaps be called a monumental cemetery because of its exceptional use of topography - with the cemetery planned very symmetrically around a hill with the main chapel at the apex. There is a dearth of impressive monuments although the western side of the cemetery has quite a few beautifully designed, privately owned chapels.

The starting point was the Dominican chapel where the nun Teresa Parlar was buried in 1927. Parlar was known as something of a mystic in her time and was controversially reputed to have eaten little if anything from the age of eight - surely a record as far as hunger strikes go.  Parlar got into some trouble with the colonial authorities because of her saintly reputation and she was for a time hospitalized and put under observation. Today she is all but forgotten.

One of the stranger curiosities is the tomb of a business family from Marsa whose crest is a tower. The tower is reproduced on the tomb and the family apparently chips a block off the tower every time a member dies.

Perhaps the most poignant monument is the one put up by a travelling businessman who, upon his unexpected return from abroad, so surprised his mother that she apparently died suddenly on seeing him. This is one of the finest sculptures at Addolorata even though it still has shrapnel damage (visible lower right in the photo above) when a bomb exploded nearby in the Second World War.

Also of artistic merit is the Sette Giugno monument which recalls the 1919 riots and contains the remains of four of the victims. The monument was designed by the Russian émigré artist Boris Edwards and recalls the style of our own Antonio Sciortino. Incidentally the cemetery did contain a few funerary sculptures by Sciortino himself but these have apparently all been stolen.  An interesting article on Boris Edwards can be found here.

One other oddity is the tomb of an unfortunate boy who was killed by a fallen brick. The actual brick that killed him was incorporated in the statue adorning his tomb. Incidentally the unlucky boy was nowhere near as ugly as the tifel tal-precett represented on the tomb.
 

A last oddity and infamy - there is apparently only one illegally dug tomb in the whole cemetery and this belongs to a deceased former politician who was notorious enough in his life. It is not pretty to speak ill of the departed but to carry one's arrogance into the next life is something else…

Lejla Maltija Il-Bidu

Lejla Maltija powered by Mario Cordina has burst into life with a premier concert of original music, folklore, visuals, information and food from Mario's native island Malta. Performed live at Rocker club in Szczecin, it has proved to be a success and who knows where they will go from here.

The music concept is to combine Maltese folklore and musical themes into different genres, give it a more contemporary feel to attract today's audiences. The lyrical content is about Malta's past. legends, customs, folklore, especially about traditions lost or dying out. Together with the visuals chosen, this is an attempt to educate and demonstrate that Malta has more than just beaches and sun to offer foreigners. A proud declaration from an island nation from a Maltese citizen abroad.   

Lejla Maltija is:

Mario Cordina on vocals and guitars, 'Hose' Jacek Lesiak on bass, 'Roderigo' Krzysztof Baranowski on keys and percussion, 'Manwel' Matek Mater (Mateusz Lazar) on guitars.
Check out more photos at Lejla Maltija Photos at Rocker Club

Another Anidroc Production.