Mro. Joseph Ciappara

Mro. Joseph Ciappara was a Maltese musician, composer, music teacher and a band director who also played the flute and the Fife or Ottavino with the Malta Royal opera theatre orchestra.https://culturemalta.org/the-royal-opera-house/ 
He also played the mandolin, piano and piano accordion among other instruments. Mro. Joseph Ciappara is not related to fellow Maltese, Mro. Vincenzo Ciappara 
Joseph, also known as Guzeppi Ciappara was born in Qormi and was one of the five children of George Ciappara and Karmena Farrugia. He was married to Helena nee Pace from Qormi. They had four children, John. Carmen. Dionisio and Gorgette.
Joseph Ciappara was conductor director and music teacher of the Mellieha Sports and Orchestra Club,
He was also assistant director of the Filarmonic Society Pinto, St Sebastian Band Club [ Societa Filarmonika Pinto Banda San Bastian ], Qormi. His home town has named a street, 'Triq Guzeppi Ciappara' in his honour https://moovitapp.com/index/en-gb/public_transportation-Triq_%C4%A0u%C5%BCeppi_Ciappara-Malta-site_143601423-4507 
Mro.Joseph (Guzeppi) Ciappara was also passionately involved in the Malta Carnival organising committees as attested in the writings of Dr Herbert Ganado, in Sergio Grech'shttps://bdlbooks.com/authors/sergio-grech/ book L-Avukat Herbert Ganado, 'Bejn storja u Miti' page 73 https://www.academia.edu/41830737/L_Avukat_Herbert_Ganado_Bejn_Storja_u_Miti_%C4%A0abra_ta_Kitbiet
Ironically, Mro Joseph Ciappara passed away during the last day of the Carnival festivities of 1969 after suffering a cardiac arrest. 
 
Musical Works.
Mro. Joseph Ciappara composed many Maltese songs and band marches for local band clubs https://www.guidememalta.com/en/a-local-tradition-rooted-in-the-past-the-maltese-band-club
Some of his songs won first or second places in Maltese song festivals. Among these songs were,
L-Ghada tal-Festa ma Vitorin (The day after the feast with Vitorin) 
Il-Festa Taghna (Our Feast). 
Nhar San Girgor ( St. Gregory’s day)
Il-lejla ta Vitoria ( the eve of the Victory)
Għanja ta l'Emigranti ( The Emigrants' Balad)
Sparaw Ghal Qamar ( They shot at the Moon, made famous by Maltese comedian Charles Clews https://www.maltatoday.com.mt/arts/entertainment/97044/comic_without_a_clews_centenary_of_the_great_maltese_entertainer#.YQzLvBQzbcs)
Il-Kaċċatur (The hunter) sung by Joe Grech https://www.guidememalta.com/en/malta-s-very-first-eurovision-contestant-legend-joe-grech-celebrates-his-87th-birthday
This is a list of some of his compositions of band marches still played by Maltese Band Clubs.https://www.maltauncovered.com/culture/malta-band-clubs-and-band-marches/
Ya Hoo.
Ricordio di Napoli.
Rapido
Irene
El Dorado
Narbona. 
Georgina.
Ding Dong Bells.
Marching to Rome.
The Gypsies Song 
And some others that he composed for the King Own Band Valetta https://www.um.edu.mt/library/oar/handle/123456789/8712
Mro. Joseph Ciappara also wrote a number of Operettas among which. 
‘Baltazar Bomba’
'Xamaxa'
‘Il-Kaċċa Ghal Kallini’
‘Santalerina’
‘Cin Cin China Cin’ composed for the opening of the ‘Oratorju Sagra Familja- St. George parish, Qormi
 
He also composed the musical vaudvilles 
‘Ahna ahna jew mahniex’ and 
‘Go Go.’
Mro Joseph Ciappara was also: 
the organizer and musical director of Zebbug theatre hall 'DUN mikiel Xerri' Malta.
Assistant Director of the Qormi company ‘ Kumpanija Qormija Id-Dehen’. 
Treasurer of the Kings Own Band Club Valetta.https://www.academia.edu/44623298/A_City_its_Identity_and_its_Music_the_popularisation_of_Wind_Band_Art_Music_in_20_th_century_Valletta_Malta
Many times a committee member of the ‘Filarmonic Society Pinto, St Sebastian Band Club’ Qormi https://www.independent.com.mt/articles/2006-05-31/news/pinto-brass-band-concert-in-qormi-92128/
Committee member of the Malta Band Club Association,https://translate.google.com/translate?hl=en&sl=mt&u=https://maltaband.org/&prev=search&pto=aue 
Member of the Carnival Organising Committe (Carnival Organizativ) 
Many of his music manuscripts can be found the archives of the Kings Own Band Club, Valetta , and the Filarmonic Society Pinto St. Sebastian Band., Qormi
 
Category:1903 births
Category:1969 deaths
Category:Maltese musicians
Category:Maltese composers