Musicians on the Maltese Islands prior to the establishment of the mid-nineteenth century bands

Abstract

Musicians have always played a very relevant part in the culture of the people of the Maltese Islands. There were different instruments used over the years, and different influences that predisposed us for the establishment of the wind, brass and percussion bands, which we embraced so fully by the mid-nineteenth century. Folk musicians, instrumentation in sacred and secular music, pageantry and finally the early military bands all played a part.