Issue link: https://maltatoday.uberflip.com/i/455578
VII This week maltatoday, Sunday, 1 February 2015 Keeping Carnival traditions alive: Il-Qarċilla double-bill Heritage Malta will once again be treating its patrons to an original and unique Carnival event this year: Il-Qarċilla at the Inquisitor's Palace and the National Museum of Natural History in collaboration with l-Akkademja tal-Malti. Il-qarċilla is a poetic farce in Mal- tese, which up to a hundred years ago formed part of the Carnival celebra- tions held in Valletta and was also very popular in a number of villages. A man, acting as a notary, would in the presence of two youngsters, acting as husband and wife-to-be, read out a marital contract in verse filled with satirical innuendos and humour. The crowd would gather in the streets of Valletta to listen to the poem which, in some instances, could require an adult audience. The first qarċilla on record was written for the 1760 carnival fes- tivities by Cospicua poet Dun Feliċ Demarco. Amongst the works by Demarco, one also finds Iż-Żwieġ la Maltija (Marriage the Maltese way) which is the only one of his works which survived to this day. The first Qarċilla will take place at The Inquisitor's Palace in Vitto- riosa on February 16 at 20:00. The programme includes a short talk by Olvin Vella about the linguistic value of the ancient qrieċel, a perform- ance, a small exhibition of authentic specimens of qrieċel and a reception. The second run will be held at the National Museum of Natural History in Mdina on February 17 at 20:00. Once again, the programme will include a short talk, this time by Dr Bernard Micallef, about the literary value of the first qarċilla, a perform- ance, a small exhibition of authentic specimens of qrieċel and a reception. The new qarċilla is written by Trevor Zahra. Tickets at €15 can be pur- chased from all Heritage Malta sites and museums and online on http:// shop.heritagmalta.org. For more information about this and other similar events one can visit the official Heritage Malta website www.heritagemalta.org or follow the agency's pages on Facebook Malta Cultural Institute gears up for its fifth concert The Malta Cultural Institute will be presenting its fifth concert for the 2014/15 Season, on Febru- ary 8 at 19:00 at Le Meridien St Julian's Hotel & Spa. The concert will also be celebrating the 66th anniversary of the MCI. The Malta Cultural Institute was set up in 1949 by a group of people headed by Prof. Gaston Tonna Barthet. Their aim was to bring culture to the general public, after the difficult years of the Second World War. They collected funds from different en- tities and Embassies and bought a Concert Grand Bluthner Piano- forte, which is still the main asset of the MCI. The first concert the MCI presented was on February 15, 1949. The February concert will feature the St Julian's Band Club. This is the oldest Band in St Julian's and its premises are situated in the heart of the town, in St George's Road. The Band Club was set up by Fr Paul Galea, Angelo Pullicino and Gaetano Borg Olivier in 1927. Pullicino, the first Director, served for 40 years. For the MCI Concert, the band, under the direction of Etienne Spiteri, will be presenting a very attractive programme of 'Highlights from the Musicals'. Mezzo-Soprano Marie Therese Vassallo and the Choral Group from the 'Marie Therese Vassallo Voice Studio' will be joining the band. February's exhibition will be featuring paintings by well known painter and teacher Mat- thew Cassar. More information may be obtained by phoning the MCI Director on Tel: 21338923 or Mob: 9980 0409, or by sending an email to maltacultinst@gmail.com Etienne Spiteri