Un Bruit Pieux: exploring the ethnomusicological context of Zabbar, its festas, its people, its music

Fondation de Malte, in collaboration with the Zabbar Local Council, has launched a book entitled “Un Bruit Pieux: Bandas, Musique et Fête dans un village maltais (Zabbar)”. The result of Dr Giovanna Iacovazzi’s many years of research for her doctoral thesis at the Sorbonne University, the book explores the ethnomusicological context of Zabbar, its festas, its people, its bandas and its music.

Fondation de Malte’s Executive Director, David Raphaël Busuttil, introducing the book to the guests present, pointed out that Dr. Iacovazzi analyses Zabbar not only from a societal angle but also examines the role of the banda in its civic context. The members of her doctoral jury, who include scholars well acquainted with Malta (Jeremy Boissevain and Alain Blondy – whose preface introduces the book -), were duly impressed.

In her presentation, Dr. Iacovazzi gave an insight as to the inspiring moment when, still searching for her doctoral subject, she arrived at Zabbar for its festa and, overwhelmed by the ‘festa spirit’, and decided to channel her study on Zabbar. Mr. Carmel Bonavia, forming part of the panel, stressed the importance of music in Maltese festas. It is the powerful sounds that emanate from bands and from church bells that give the feast its character, for indeed without music there can be no celebration, there is no Bruit Pieux ( no “holy” sound). Mr. Domenic Agius, Mayor of Zabbar, who kindly made available the Council premises for the occasion, expressed his gratitude to Dr. Iacovazzi because Zabbar was probably the first Maltese village to have undergone such an indepth enthomusicological study and the community looked forward to an eventual English version.

David Raphael Busuttil thanked the generous sponsors: Mme. MarieAmèlie Gleizes-Dewavrin, President of the Institute of Maltese Culture, Mr. Gilles Guttierez, Managing Director of the Institute for Cellular Pharmacology and the Société française d’ethnomusicologie. Special thanks were also proffered to the Deputy Mayor of Zabbar, John Pace, and all the staff at the Zabbar Local Council, who very kindly offered their assistance. Un bruit pieux is amply illustrated and includes a CD referring to Dr Iacovazzi’s musical analysis. It is distributed by BDL and is available in leading bookshops. The Fondation de Malte is a non-governmental organization dedicated to human rights, environment and culture.