BOOKMark : Issue 19

BOOKMARK The Junior College Library Newsletter Competition! FEB/MAR - ISSUE 19 - 2019 CONTENTS  Editor’s Note  Feature : L-Innu ta’ l-Istudenti Universitarji : it-tielet parti minn Mro. Manoel Pirotta 4  Recent Accessions 8  Save the Date : Blind Date with a Book 9  On the Job : Human Resources Manager 11  Feature: Poetry in Potato Bags by Froukje de Jong-Karp 12  Book Clubs : Tal-Kotba 14  Tips & Tricks 15  Writers’ Corner : Il-Bewsa minn Alison Mintoff 16  Librarian’s Choice 17  Rokna Poeti 18  Feature: 20 Anniversarju—Junior College Orchestra 20  Competition 22  Sports Feature : Futsal in Malta by Stephen Azzopardi 23 3 EDITOR’S NOTE Dear Readers, Already a month has passed from the New Year and we hope that you have settled back into your routines after the Christmas recess! A lot of people start off the New Year with the resolution of reading more books—we cannot agree more! There are many ways to challenge yourself not just by breaking your personal record of books read but by also reading books coming from different genres. There are many to choose from at the Library where we have a vast selection of Biographies, Fiction, Science Fiction and even Romance. If you prefer reading in English, why not challenge yourself by reading a Maltese title—if you are stuck, just ask and we would be more than happy to help out! As per our tradition, during February we shall be organising Blind Date with a Book. We recommend that you do not miss it! You can even include it as part of your Book Challenge! This year, it is going to have something extra … two vouchers will be hidden inside two books for two lucky winners! Good Luck! Even though many of you are busy revising for your tests and exams, take some time out by reading a book! Giving your brain a break by reading or by pursuing another hobby is scientifically proven to help you to relax and be more creative! We wish you all Good Luck for your exams! JC Library Team JC Library Opening Hours : Contact us : juniorcollege.lib@um.edu.mt Monday to Friday 7am to 4pm Follow us on : www.facebook.com/uom.jclibrary/ FEATURE L-Innu tal-Istudenti Universitarji : it-tielet parti minn Mro. Manoel Pirotta Fit-tieni parti ta’ dan l-artiklu li deher fl-aħħar ħarġa tal-BOOKmark kont laqqajtkom ma’ Mro. Carmelo Pace li kiteb il-mużika tal-Innu, kif ukoll dwari peress li tgħallimt għandu. Tkellimna wkoll fuq xi xogħlijiet tiegħu b’rabta mal-Milied. Fit-tielet parti ser nintroduċikom ma’ Albert Maria Cassola, l-awtur tal-versi, kif ukoll xi tagħrif b’mod ġenerali fuq l-Innu. Bħas-soltu wkoll, ma tonqosx silta sbejħa mid-Djarju ta’ Dun Anton Xiberras (1921-2006), din id-darba fuq l-istaġun tar-Rebbiegħa peress li din il-ħarġa hija ta’ FrarMarzu. 21-03-46: L-EWWEL TAR-REBBIEGĦA: ‘Ir-Rebbiegħa kienet dejjem il-għanja l-iktar ħajja tal-poeti. Kollox jerġa’ jieħu l-ħajja wara l-qilla tax-xitwa; in-natura tqum: ix-xtieli jarmu u l-għasafar iġennu kullimkien bil -għana tagħhom. Bħalhom il-qalb tal-bniedem. Fir-rebbiegħa tat-tfulitu l-bniedem iħoss il-hena kollu talħajja taqbeż ġo ruħu u bħal għasfur li jgħanni, it-tifel jaqbeż, jiġġiera, jidħak u jgħanni! Ħajja safja w imbierka!!!’ (Id-Djarju: Għadd 11, It-Tlieta, 19 ta’ Marzu, 1946, p. 22). Albert Maria Cassola (1915-74) twieled il-Belt Valletta. Ħa l-edukazzjoni bikrija minn St. Joseph High School u l-Liċeo. Issokta bl-istudji barra minn Malta fl-Università Degli Studi (Milan), fl-Università per Stranieri (Perugia), u f’Centro di Coordinazione Internazionale (Ruma). Segwa wkoll kors fil-filosofija u l-pedagoġija fl-Accademia (Turin) u ieħor f’żewġ ilsna ewlenin, Taljan u Ingliż (Londra). Fl-1953 inħatar membru sħiħ talInstitute of Linguists (Londra). Cassola huwa wkoll rebbieħ ta’ għadd ta’ midalji prestiġjużi u premjijiet inter/nazzjonali fosthom, il-Medaglia Culturale di Bronzo mill-Ministru Taljan għall-Affarijiet Barranin (1953), żewġ premji fil-proża Taljana - Premio Colosseo (Ruma, 1966), u Premio degli Immortali d’Italia (Messina, 1969), u l-famuża insinja ta’ Cavaliere Ufficiale dell-Ordina al Merito della Repubblica Italiana mill-President Taljan Giuseppe Saragat (1969). F’Malta huwa rebaħ l-Inez Soler Trophy għall-aqwa dramm oriġinali bil-Malti f’konkors imniedi mill-Malta Albert M. Cassola, l-awtur tal-versi tal-Innu tal-Istudenti Universitarji Drama League (1951), u ngħata premju postumu, il-Malta Literary Prize, għar-rumanz oriġinali, It-Tfajla bil-Fjur fuq Sidirha (1976). Għal ħafna snin, kien għalliem tat-Taljan u l-Malti fil-Liċeo tal-Ħamrun. Aktar tard beda jgħallem it-Taljan flMCAST u serva bħala Assistent Surmast tas-Sixth Form. Kien ukoll Chief Examiner fit-Taljan għall-British Army f’Malta u fis-Servizz Ċivil. Minbarra drammaturgu, Cassola kien ukoll rumanzier, poeta, xandar, traduttur ta’ kitbiet rinomati, kif ukoll l-awtur tal-versi ta’ għadd bla qies ta’ kanzunetti fosthom, Mamma, Baħar Kaħlani, Marija, Baby Ġoġo, Il-Maltija, Iż-Żifna u l-Bewsa, L-Imħabba, Strada Rjali, u LGħada tal-Festa ma’ Vitorin. Waħda mill-kanzunetti tiegħu kienet saħansitra ntgħażlet biex tirrappreżenta lil Malta fil-Eurovision Song Contest. Għal xi żmien, kien ukoll l-editur letterarju ta’ IlQawmien Il-versi tal-Innu: L-Innu għandu minn poeżija patrijottika u għaldaqstant jagħmel użu mill-kelma sempliċi u popolari. Dan l-istil ta’ poeżija kien imfittex l-aktar minn dawk il-poeti, fosthom Cassola stess, li għexu lkruha tal-Gwerra. Għad li t-ton tal-Innu jinstema’ waqtiet militanti żżejjed, il-versi jridu jittieħdu filkuntest taż-żmien illi fih inkiteb. Dan l-element, l-aktar li jinħass hu fir-ritornell fejn il-poeta qed isejjaħ lill -istudenti matrikolati bħala ‘kamerati’ tal-istess xirka li qed jintrabtu bil-wegħda solenni li jiġġieldu biex jaraw lil Malta ‘ħielsa u rebbieħa’ kif dejjem riedet taraha l-Università sa mit-twaqqif tagħha. Dawn ilversi jfakkruni ħafna fir-ritornell ta’ La Marseillaise meta l-poeta jgħid hekk: Aux armes, citoyens, / Formez vos bataillons, / Marchons, marchons! / Qu’ un sang impur / Abreuve nos sillons! Dan għaliex dan l-innu mhux għajr għanja rivoluzzjonarja, innu favur il-ħelsien, sejħa patrijottika biex jimmobilizza liċċittadini kollha u jinstigahom ħalli jiġġieldu kontra t-tirannija u l-ħakma barranija. Fil-każ tal-Innu ta’ Cassola nsibu li l-istudenti huma bħal ‘suldati’ u għaldaqstant il-poeta jridhom mhux biss li jwiegħdu ħajjithom lil Malta ‘fil-ġlieda tal-ħelsien’ imma wkoll iwettqu d-dmir qaddis tagħhom billi jħarsu ‘lill-Fidi u lill-Pajjiż’ mill-għedewwa ta’ pajjiżhom. Iżda mhux biss, għax kif ser naraw aktar ‘il quddiem, anki sSurmast Pace ddakkar sew bl-istess mod mill-istess Innu Nazzjonali Franċiż meta ġie biex jimmużika rritornell tal-Innu tal-Istudenti Universitarji. Hawn taħt qed inġib il-versi tal-Innu: Warrbulna ħalli ngħaddu Ulied tal-Alma Mater Bit-toga fuq spallejna! U aħwa fl-Awla Magna; Bħalissa tħarsux lejna! M’hemmx aqwa mill-kukkanja! Bħalissa għaddej il-għerf! M’hemmx isbaħ mill-irvell! La ġġib it-toga sewda ‘Ma kif nisimgħu s-sejħa Kulħadd iroddlok ġieħ. Inwieġbu bla dewmien; Ukoll il-moħħ tal-għuda Ħajjietna nwiegħdu ‘l Malta Il-berrettin jgħattih! Fil-ġlieda tal-ħelsien! Hemm qalb taħt din it-toga, Suldati u Studenti, Hemm ħsieb ġol-berrettin: Imwettqu d-dmir qaddis L-imħabba li torbotna Li nħarsu mill-għedewwa U żżommna magħqudin. Lill-Fidi u lill-Pajjiż! Rit.: Kamerati, matrikolati Koda: Li ħielsa u rebbieħa Il-għelm tar-rebbiegħa! Lil Malta sabiħa Kamerati, u lkoll suldati, Dejjem irid jaraha Il-kelma ġa tajnieha Ġidd l-Università. Il-mużika tal-Innu: Aktarx li għall-bidu, l-Innu tal-Istudenti Universitarji kien inkiteb biex jitkanta minn kor fl-unisonu1għall-akkumpanjament tal-pjanu. Jidher li dan biss kien mitlub mill-kompożituri meta ssottomettew l-applikazzjoni tagħhom għal dan il-konkors. Xi żmien wara, Mro. Pace kien ħareġ sett ta’ partijiet għall-istrumenti tal-korda, x’aktarx wara li sar jaf li l-Innu tiegħu kien il-wieħed rebbieħ. Hawn nixtieq nżid ngħid li min-naħa tiegħi wkoll kont ħriġt il-bqija tal-partijiet biex l-Innu seta’ jindaqq millorkestra tal-kulleġġ. Hawn taħt qed inġib l-Innu sħiħ ta’ Mro. Pace wara li kien ġie litografat. Wieħed jinnota li, għalkemm stampat, xorta waħda jidher f’forma ta’ manuskritt kif oriġinarjament ħareġ millpinna tal-kompożitur. Il-versi qegħdin ittajpjati fin-naħa ta’ fejn hemm għaddejja l-melodija jiġifieri fuq ilpentagramma3 tal-kjavi tal-vjolin4. Safejn kien possibli wkoll, il-kliem tqassam f’sillabi skont il-valur tan-nota. Is-soltu il-kant jieħu pentagramma għalih biex dak li jkun ma jitfixkilx meta jiġi biex ikantah. Innu bħalma hu dan jinkiteb fi stil aktarx sempliċi, bl-użu ta’ armonija tradizzjonali u melodija tal-widna. B’hekk jagħmlu aktar faċli għal min ikun jixtieq ikantah mingħajr il-bżonn li jkun imħarreġ fil-vuċi. It-tabella t’hawn taħt turi kif inhu mqassam l-Innu. Parti ‘A’ tinkludi l-introduzzjoni (b. 004 - 043), u l-istrofa magħmula minn tliet kwartini (b. 044 – 283). Parti ‘B’ tirrappreżenta lir-ritornell (b. 284 - 443 [453]) li, fih innifsu, jerġa’ jinqasam f’żewġ partijiet. Partijiet ‘A’ u ‘B’ jiġu replikati 5 qabel mal-Innu jmur għall-koda (b. 454 – 533). Parti Battuti6 Taqsima A 004-043 Introduzzjoni 044-123 1 [4] 124-203 2 [5] 204-283 3 [6] Strofa B Ritornell Jissokta fil-ħarġa tal-BOOKmark li jmiss. 1 4 3 28 -36 Parti 1 364-443 [453] Parti 2 454-533 Koda R E P L I K A Fejn kulħadd ikanta l-istess noti tal-melodija. 2 F’orkestra, il-familja tal-istrumenti tal-korda hi magħmula minn vjolini, li jitqassmu fi primi u sekondi, vjoli, vjolinċelli u kuntrabaxxi. Jissejħu hekk għax jagħmlu użu minn erba’ kordi (jew inkella wtar = plural ta’ watar) li jikkurdaw ruħhom skont l-istrument. Normalment, huma jindaqqu permezz tal-ark (ġieli jissejjaħ ukoll arkett, jew qwajjes = diminuttiv ta’ qaws), jew billi toqros ħafif il-kordi bis-swaba tal-id il-leminija, dak li aħna nsejħulu pizzikar. 3 Jew vers ta’ ħames rigi għall-kitba tal-mużika. 4 Din tissejjaħ ukoll il-kjavi tas-‘Sol’ peress li titqiegħed fuq it-tieni linja. Tissajjaħ ukoll ‘tal-vjolin’ peress li sservi ta’ kjavi għal dan l-istrument tal-korda. Il-kjavi hija importanti għax biha jiġi ffissat l-isem tan-noti. Din tikkonsisti f’sinjali apposta li jservu biex tirrepeti numru ta’ battuti li jkunu magħluqin fuq kull naħa tagħhom. Utli ħafna biex tiffranka milli toqgħod tikteb l-istess passaġġ għal darbtejn, liema passaġġ jista’ jkun fih ħafna noti. 5 6 It-taqsim ta’ biċċa mużika f’biċċiet qsar tal-istess valur jew għaqda ta’ noti jew pawsi li jitqassmu fi kwantità ugwali ta’ valur. Battuta tinfired minn oħra permezz ta’ stangetta (barline). Recent Accessions Mary Queen of Scots : the true life of Mary Stuart by John Guy The Quantum Labyrinth : how Richard Feynman and John Wheeler revolutionised time and reality Starfish by Akemi Dawn Bowman Thabbat Xtaqtek : diarju mill-Ermitagg by Gioele Galea by Paul Halpern Practice in Physics Poetic Potates : Poetry in Potato Bags 4th edition by Tim Akrill, George Bennet & Chris Millar SAVE THE DATE ON THE JOB Human Resources Manager In this instalment of ON THE JOB we interview a Human Resources Manager about her role: How did you become a Human Resources Manager? My interest in the field of HR developed when I was around 16 years old. At the time, I was a student at Junior College, and I took on a few part-time jobs in catering to earn some extra money. I became fascinated with the work HR professionals did. The duties were incredibly varied and related to all departments. It seemed to me that their day of work was always different and that their job could never be boring. I then decide to study psychology, which provided me with the right academic background for a career in this field. What do you actually do? Together with my team, we provide support to other departments in various areas. These include ;  Selection and Recruitment  Performance Management  Training and Development  Employee Coaching and Career Development  Health and Safety  Compensation and Benefits  Employee Relations  Employee Engagement  Payroll and Administration Why do you think your job is important? We pass on knowledge to empower line managers to take on an active role in dealing with employees on all aspects of one’s working life. It is through this empowerment that we provide the fuel to drive the Company’s workforce to achieve organisational objectives. What did you study to become a Human Resources Manager? I started with reading a degree in B. Psy (Hons). This led me to pursue a Post graduate Diploma in Lifelong Career Guidance and development. I then furthered my studies to an MSc. Occupational Psychology. What is your favourite book? Hmmm… The last book that I really enjoyed reading was Call the midwife :A memoir of birth, joy and Hard Times by Jennifer Worth FEATURE Poetry in Potato Bags Froukje de Jong-Krap In 2012 the first meeting about the project Poetry in Potato Bags (in Friesland called Poetic Potatoes) was held in Malta during the talks about Valletta 2018 together with Adrian Grima. We agreed that both our countries have a rich history in literature, poetry and have two official languages. Besides that for over 150 years we have an economic bond; through the import and export of potatoes between our countries. After the initial hesitance and smiles about the double meaning of the word potatoes had disappeared, things started to get more serious. At this time Leeuwarden was still in competition with three other cities in the Netherlands. However, when the battle was won, Leeuwarden was the official Cultural Capital of Europe as a tandem-city with Valletta. The Potatoes go Wild project got well underway. In October 2014 the first selection of Frisian poems, by poets and schoolchildren, and their translated versions into English was sent to Malta in a sea-container. Next, poems from a Fisian primary school were sent along and taken to a school in Malta. In March 2015 it was Malta’s turn to send poems by Maltese poets and schoolchildren. Meanwhile, Maltese potatoes were sold in (super)markets with a Maltese poem attached to the sacks. These sacks managed to reach 2,500 households each year! This process continued for four years which led to the 2018 publication of the majority of the poems along with some background-information. 5,000 copies were printed, with most of them distributed in Friesland. This means, that over 4,000 people actually read Maltese poetry, whilst at the same time learning something about the country and the economic value of the potatotrade. In the meantime Leanne Ellul and I had started up an education-program for primary schools with the intention to increase awareness of where food is coming from and ‘wrapping’ it into an artistic cover, also using art and artists as well as some good food tastings in Malta and Friesland. Leanne and Rita Saliba visited Fiesland in 2016 to work with children and adults on poetry. They also had meetings and discussions about the value of the Maltese and Frisian language in daily life. Leanne came to visit again in 2018 for a week to discuss the Maltese language. Honestly speaking: this was a very large project, but this is what made it so special. I had the opportunity to speak to and discuss with a diverse group of people including; poets, young and old(er) people, and teachers and students. Talking to one another about different ideas made us aware that there is so much that connects us, making this experience unforgettable. In December 2018, I was invited to a book club session at the Junior College. During this session, I told my story and afterwards we had a lively discussion about the use of the Maltese language in writing, not only on paper but also in the social media and WhatsApp messages. Again it proved that we understand each-other and are proud of our languages that colour our cultures, but also have our worries about their future. Even though from this project came to an end I think there is much more to learn from eachother. Hopefully, this project and collaboration might continue in the future. In the meantime: thank you for letting me get to know you and learn about Maltese, Malta and especially its people that I have come to like so much. Froukje de Jong-Krap meeting JC Students during a session of Tal-Kotba held at the Library. BOOK CLUBS TAL-KOTBA għandu l-għan li jinstiga diskussjoni dwar il-kotba u kull ħaġa marbuta mal-kotba bħal films u mużika. Għandu l-għan li jiskomoda u jistaqsi dak li mdorrijin bih. Għal siegħa waħda biss. Hekk kif inżuru ta-ħaxix u talħobż, inżuru TAL-KOTBA. Aħna, TAL-KOTBA. Daqshekk sempliċi. Aħna naqraw, aħna nisimgħu, aħna niddiskutu, aħna noħolqu. TAL-KOTBA huwa klabb organizzat mid-Dipartiment tal-Malti fi ħdan il-Librerija tal-Junior College bl-appoġġ sħiħ tal-Għaqda tal-Malti - Università u Buzzer Stationers. Il-laqgħat jitmexxew minn Ms Leanne Ellul u miftuħa għallistudenti kollha. TIPS & TRICKS WRITERS’ CORNER IL-BEWSA Alison Mintoff Is-sena 1563. F’dik il-lejla il-qamar kwinta ħareġ jinbex lil bosta li ddeċidew li jqattgħu wieħed mil iljieli tal-Karnival jimirħu fi tbaħrid u briju. Il-Kavallier żagħżugħ Franċiż tbissem hekk kif lemaħ lil sħabu resqin lejh. Kienu wegħduh li f’dik il-lejla kien se jduq ftit mit-tuffieħa projbita. Libes il-maskra u telaq magħhom għal għonq it-triq lejn waħda milpjazez ewlenin tal-Birgu. Xorob, daħak u żifen kemm felaħ, sakemm għajnejh iltaqgħu ma’ dawk ta’ xbejba, wiċċha mistur kważi għalkollox taħt maskra kkulurita, b’xuxitha iswed jasal sa qaddha. B’ħarsa waħda ħeġġitu jsegwiha. ‘Tgħid din ix-xbejba kienet it-tifla tan-nutar Briffa li spiss kienet trodd lura t-tbissima li kien iħobb iżerżqilha kull meta jilmaħha?’ ħaseb hu. Ħarsa ħafifa lejn sħabu mitlufin fis-sokor u telaq għal warajha. Sab littfajla tistennieh fuq għatba ta’ bieb fi sqaq imwarrab. Bilkemm seta’ jemmen lil xortih. Resaq lejha u missilha ħaddejha. Ftit sekondi ‘l bogħod mill-mument tant mixtieq minnu, sema’ lit-tfajla tidħak daħk li kompla jżid ma’ dak ta’ sħabu li kienu segwewh sal-bokka tal-isqaq. Ix-xebba ma kienet ħadd għajr Ġamri, sabi ta’ tlettax-il sena, li l-hena tiegħu kienet li jiżżufjetta bil-Kavallieri kburin. Bil-maskra f’idejh, it-tifel sparixxa fid-dalma tallejl bid-daħk tal-Franċiżi xurbana jidwi f’widnejh, u bil-ħarsa mqita tal-Kavallier stampata f’moħħu. Din l-istorja tagħmel parti mill-ġabra ta stejjer ‘Għidli Mitejn’ Alison Mintoff hi librara fid-Dipartiment tal-Melitensia Librarian’s Choice RECOMMENDED READINGS FROM OUR SHELVES Freddie Mercury : the definitive biography by Lesley-Ann Jones This is the definitive biography of Freddie Mercury, written by award-winning rock journalist Lesley-Ann Jones, who toured widely with Queen and formed lasting friendships with the band. Now, having secured access to the remaining band members and those who were closest to Freddie from childhood to death, Lesley-Ann has written the most in-depth account of one of music's best loved and most complex figures. Meticulously researched, sympathetic, unsensationalised, the book focuses on the period in the 1980s when Queen began to fragment, before their Live Aid performance put them back in the frame. In her journey to understand the man behind the legend, Lesley-Ann Jones has travelled from London to Zanzibar to India. Packed with exclusive interviews and told with the invaluable perspective that the twenty years since Mercury's death presents, Bohemian Rhapsody is the most up-todate portrait of a legendary man Find me at: BIO ML420.M389 J65 2012 Wonder by R.J. Palacio 'My name is August. I won't describe what I look like. Whatever you're thinking, it's probably worse.' Auggie wants to be an ordinary ten-year-old. He does ordinary things - eating ice cream, playing on his Xbox. He feels ordinary - inside. But ordinary kids don't make other ordinary kids run away screaming in playgrounds. Ordinary kids aren't stared at wherever they go. Born with a terrible facial abnormality, Auggie has been home-schooled by his parents his whole life. Now, for the first time, he's being sent to a real school - and he's dreading it. All he wants is to be accepted - but can he convince his new classmates that he's just like them, underneath it all? Wonder is a funny, frank, astonishingly moving debut to read in one sitting, pass on to others, and remember long after the final page. Find me at : FIC PS361.A7355 W659 2014 The Sheriff’s Catch by James Vella-Bardon 1588. Abel de Santiago has deserted the army and all but avenged his murdered wife, when he is captured and sold as a galley slave. As the Spanish Armada sails for England, there can be few souls on board more reluctant than him. After a crushing defeat to the enemy fleet, the Spanish ships are battered by extraordinary storms and Santiago finds himself washed ashore in Ireland, a country terrorised by English troops that the natives call Sassenachs. But Santiago's faint hopes of survival appear dashed when he is captured by a brutal Sheriff, who has orders from Dublin to torture and kill all Spanish castaways. An unlikely escape has Santiago flee with a jewelled ring worth a king's ransom. His flight leads to a desperate chase across a strange and stunning land, where danger lurks at every turn. So begins The Sheriff's Catch; Part One of The Sassana Stone Pentalogy Find me at : MEL PR9125.9.V45 S38 ROKNA POETI Valz Wayne Farrugia Jien bil-libsa intiera, biċ-ċoff, illamtat u inti tleqq f’ilbiesek irrakkmat fil-ballroom induru u nduru nistordu fid-droga ta’ valzi mlaħħmin u int sbejħa rieqda m’għadekx rieqda għax qajjimtek jien biex niżfnu flimkien inti l-karta u jien l-pinna jien tajtek idi u int qomt, qsamt ħsieb u lqajtu lilek biss, ‘il ħadd ma tajtu. għandek tkun grata li qsamtu miegħek biss jien kellimtek u int bla kliem weġibt u jekk xi darba oħra jfettilli niżfen valz ieħor miegħek tgħidlix le. Ibqa’ dik li int... jien inkellmek u bla protesta ilqa’ kliemi f’fommok ...sbejħa rieqda Wayne Farrugia hu Library Assistant fil-Librerija tal-Junior College ROKNA POETI Fuq kamra1 Kamartek purtieri lelà bi rqajja kannella. Int, fuq is-sodda, titgħawweġ sagħtejn puplesija muta: bla tbajja’. Tpoġġi jdejk salib fuq sidrek. Titlaq ’il barra nofs siegħa qabel attakk panikuż ieħor u terġa’ lura tgħodd madum maqsum. Fuq kamra2 Dil-kamra fiha inventarju ta’ mara kaħla jisimha Lela: bambin iswed ħriġnieh fil-milied u għadu barra lożor bojod pariġġ ġismek antikwat arloġġ wieqaf fuq is-siegħa li twelidt fiha album b’ritratti bojod u sofor radju jtektek talb skantat il-garigorijiet ta’ moħħok spiralli storduti it-te togħma ta’ rqad inixxi minn ħalqek l-ottijiet iqarmċu nofstanhari sħan kuruni tiddubbahom b’xejn imkatar imqattgħin srievet użati tazzi tal-kristall taparsi lapsijiet mibruxa kemm kemm Ma kontx iġġemma’ kollox imma kważi: majjalata balbuljata kapunata Qed tara, it-togħmiet tiegħek (kważi) kollha ata jispiċċaw. Fuq kamra3 Dil-kamra fiha: ir-riħa tiegħek mhux flokk jew qalziet idejk vjola voċiferu tbissima mmermra tafek titwieled f’ħoġorha tikmix pariġġ il-lożor flanella mimlija boċċi saqajk stirati jmissu tarf is-sodda ħafif nifs ġewwa nifs barra, daqt tlesti xbin xagħrek griż u ma tibkix M’hemm ebda biki mal-wasla u għat-tluq dal-biki kollu m’għandniex x’nambuh. Fuq kamra4 Dil-kamra fiha: int li dejjem trid tipprova tifhem talba nfurrata bil-ħajt isfar disa’ u għoxrin punt li bqajt tisħaq fuqhom u ieħor biex tgħid għaqqadt tletin Il-poeżiji li ma jeżistux biex tifhimhom u għalxejn tħares lejn dufrejk biex jgħaddi l-ħin. Liebsa ħwejjeġ perpura, ħi u jekk ma ħsiltx idejk tiġix tmeslaħ miegħi. Leanne Ellul hi lettur fi ħdan id-Dipartiment tal-Malti tal-Junior College 20 Anniversarju : Junior College Orchestra Mro. M. Pirotta FEATURE Nhar it-Tlieta, 18 ta’ Diċembru 2018, l-orkestra residenti ta’ ‘Ġ.F. Abela’ Junior College tal-Università ta’ Malta għalqet għoxrin sena ħajja. Dal-jum ġie mfakkar b’ċerimonja żgħira imma ħelwa li fiha l-Prinċipal, is-Sur Paul Xuereb, akkumpanjat mis-Sur Roderick Vassallo, Vici Prinċipal, għamel diskors qasir li fih faħħar mhux biss ħidmet l-orkestra u l-ġid li din qed tagħmel lillistess kulleġġ, imma semma wkoll il-benefiċċji li jistgħu jinkisbu minn dawk l-istudenti li jagħżlu li jingħaqdu magħha. Wara ddiskors, il-Prinċipal ingħata l-ewwel kopja tas-CD il-ġdida f’forma ta’ memento minn idejn Mro. Manoel Pirotta bħala Surmastdirettur tal-orkestra. Imbagħad sar il-qsim ta’ carrot cake kbir u mżejjen sabiħ ħafna, bil-kelmiet ‘Junior College Orchestra – 20th anniversary’ fuqu, u miegħu ġiet servuta wkoll il-kokotina. Flistess okkażjoni l-orkestra ġiet irregalata b’pop-up banner millisbaħ iddisinjata minn Duncan Gatt. Min-naħa tiegħu wkoll, Dun Marco Portelli, kappillan tal-kulleġġ, b’mod informali qal talba ċkejkna u wara bierek is-CD il-ġdida bl-isem ta’ ‘In Christmas Mood’ Is-CD ġiet irrekordjata ġewwa t-teatru tal-kulleġġ minn Vanni Farrugia (1950-2017), assistit minn Alan Schembri, u tinkludi mhux anqas minn 18-il track ta’ mużika vokali u strumentali. Minbarra l-erba’ kantanti – l-aħwa Soraya u Solange Cardona, Annalise Psaila u Kyle Cutajar (ilkoll imħarrġin mis-Sopran Ruth Casingena) – ħadu sehem studenti ġodda flimkien ma’ oħrajn qodma imma b’esperjenza li fil-passat ma kellhomx ix-xorti li jieħdu sehem fi proġett ta’ portata simili. B’riżultat t’hekk ħareġ prodott tal-aqwa kwalità u livell tassew għoli. Id-disinn tal-jacket sar mill-graphic designer Yan Edward Pirotta BA (Hons) u ġiet ipprintjata għand il-Bestprint. Diski li jinsabu rrekordjati fuq is-CD: THE PRINCE OF EGYPT: Stephen Schwartz (tw. 1948); SALZBURG INPRESSION: W.A. Mozart (1756-91) - Arr.: Dizzy Statford; CHRISTMAS LALLUBY: John Rutter (tw. 1945) – Arr.: Manoel Pirotta; CARMEN MARCH: Geroges Bizet (1838-75) – Arr.: Charles Woodhouse; WHITE CHRISTMAS: Irving Berlin (1888-1989) - Arr.: John Edmondson; I’M WALKING IN THE AIR: Howard Blake (tw. 1938) - Arr.: Manoel Pirotta; ... AND THE NATIONS REJOICE: Robert W. Smith (tw. 1958); INTO THE STORM: Robert W. Smith (tw. 1958); A MARSHMALLOW WORLD: Peter De Rose (1900-53); HARRY POTTER AND THE GOBLET OF FIRE (Selection): Patrick Doyle (tw. 1953) - Arr.: Michael Story; MILLE CHERUBINI IN CORO: Franz Schubert (1797-1828) - Arr.: Manoel Pirotta; CHRISTMAS MARCH NO. 2 (Ilbenniena tal-Bambin): Manoel Pirotta (tw. 1962); FROSTY THE SNOWMAN: Steve Nelson (1907-81) u Jack Rollins (1906-73); GESÙ BAMBINO: Pietro Alessandro Yon (1886-1943) – Arr.: Manoel Pirotta; DARK ADVENTURE: Ralph Ford (tw. 1963); BELL CAROL ROCK: Mykola Leontovych (1877-1921) - Arr.: Ryan Fraley; A HOLIDAY SING-ALONG (Christmas Medley): Arr.: John Moss u Audrey Snyder; RADETZKY MARCH: Johann Strauss (1804-49). Xellug: Mro. Pirotta flimkien mal-ex-Prinċipal, Is-Sur Godfrey Muscat, li ra l-orkestra titwieled u titrabba; Nofs: Lemin: Xi CDs ġodda ‘In Christmas Mood’ esebiti għal waqt iċ-ċerimonja u riċeviment (18.12.2018); Mro. Pirotta flimkien ma’ Fr. Marco Portelli, kappillan talkulleġġ Il-University of Malta Junior College Orchestra twaqqfet f’Ottubru tal-1998 u tat l-ewwel kunċert tagħha fit-18 ta’ Diċembru tal-istess sena. L-għadd ta’ studenti u t-tip ta’ strumenti li jdoqqu jvarja minn sena għall oħra. Minn kemm ilha mwaqqfa hija tat mhux anqas minn 400 kunċert, uħud minnhom fuq skala nazzjonali, u daqqet f’wisq postijiet biex wieħed joqgħod isemmihom kollha hawnhekk. Daqqet f’teatri, swali, btieħi, imsieraħ, lukandi u knejjes. Daqqet ukoll kemm-il darba barra minn Malta, fosthom ilBelġju, Franza, il-Ġermanja, l-Italja, Spanja, u t-Turkija. Matul is-snin l-orkestra tal-kulleġġ kisbet bosta ċertifikati u unuri fosthom: The Horace Mercieca Award fl-2013 għas-sehem kostanti tagħha fil-Gozo International Celebration; il-Jury Special Award fil-festival internazzjonali tal-mużika rock li sar ġewwa lVodaphone Arena, f’Istanbul fl-2016; u l-ewwel premju fil-Primo Concorso Internazionale per Orchestra Scholastiche Musicale - Categoria Istituti Superiori organizzat mil-Link School of English bħala parti minn proġett multikulturali b’kollaborazzjoni mal-Associazione Multikulturale Mondiale (2017). Ritratti xellug u lemin: L-orkestra waqt ir-recording fit-teatru ‘Peter Serrancino-Inglott’ li sar f’Diċembru 2016. Fir-ritratt tan-nofs jidhru Vanni Farrugia u l-assistant tiegħu, Alan Schembri. (Ħajr: Daniel Cioffi) Grazzi speċjali tmur għas-Sur Paul Xuereb, Prinċipal tal-Kulleġġ, Dr. Karl Chircop (Dipartiment tat-Taljan), Kunsill Studenti Junior College (KSJC), Knisja Kolleġġjata u Proto Parrokkjali ta' San Pawl, Rabat – Malta, u l-membri kollha tal-orkestra li mingħajrhom dan il-proġett ma kienx ikun possibbli li jirnexxi. Is-CD tinsab għall-bejgħ bi prezz nominali ta’ €10 biss u tista’ tinkiseb jew mill-uffiċċju tal-Prinċipal jew direttament mingħand Mro. Manoel Pirotta fuq 99886056. COMPETITION BOOKMark, the JC Newsletter is looking for creative students to design next year’s covers The design can be created in any medium such as photography, digital arts, drawing etc… The cover of the next issue (Apr/May) will be an Open Theme! We look forward to see your designs! The chosen design will win a €15 voucher from Buzzer Stationery! To participate, send your designs to: juniorcollege.lib@um.edu.mt SPORTS FEATURE Futsal in Malta - by Stephen Azzopardi Futsal in Malta As mentioned in the first article in this futsal series, Futsal was played in Malta for quite a long time but not in an organized form. Teams used to play on outside pitches, which looked more like 5 a side football rather than futsal. In 2011 the Futsal Malta Association (FMA) was founded. The aim of the FMA was to improve the quality of Futsal Competitions, to strengthen the competition structure and to plan ahead for the improvement of facilities. In order to achieve its aims, FMA re-structured its competition regulations. Recently the Malta Football Association (MFA) took over all the responsibilities of the Malta FA Futsal League and thus will continue to build up on what the FMA did through the years. The popularity of this game is always on the increase and the way forward is to introduce futsal in the football’s grass roots. This season’s Maltese FA Futsal League is made up of the following teams: Birkirkara FC Futsal, Tarxien Rainbows Futsal, Valletta FC Futsal, Swieqi United FC and Swieqi United U21, Luxol St. Andrews and Luxol U19, University of Malta Students Futsal Team and UM Futsal Academy and Pietà Hotspurs Futsal. Matches are played on weekdays except Wednesdays at the Corradino Sport Pavillion in Paola and every Friday another match is scheduled at the National Sport School Pavillion in Pembroke. In the first round all teams played each other and the top six teams are now playing the second round in the Elite and the remaining teams in the First Division. Both divisions will have a playoff to determine the Elite Champion that will represent Malta in the UEFA Futsal Champions League and the First Division Champion. This season’s Elite Round is made up of Valletta FC Futsal, Luxol St. Andrews, Swieqi United, University of Malta Students Futsal Team, Birkirkara FC Futsal and Tarxien Rainbows Futsal. Pietà Hotspurs, Luxol U19, Swieqi United U21 and UM Futsal Academy are now playing in the First Division. This season started on Friday 14th September 2018 with the Super Cup Final contended by last season’s Elite Champions Valletta FC Futsal and the University of Malta Students Futsal Team who won last season’s Knock Out competition. The Universitarians didn’t start the season on a good note due to a drastic change in coaching staff and players and this led Valletta to win the Super Cup Final 10-1. Following the Super Cup Final, Valletta FC Futsal participated in the UEFA Futsal Champions League Preliminary Round and made it to the Main Round. Qualifing for two consecutive years to the main round was an important mileston for Maltese futsal. Last season Luxol St. Andrews also made it to the Main Round. In fact there’s a huge rivalry between Luxol and Valletta which brings a huge audience to the Corradino Pavillion who leave satisfied with the high level of futsal played by both sides. With Maltese clubs having positive results in the European competitions many international high level players are being attracted to play in Malta. Foreign players include the Romanian National Futsal Team Captain Emil Andrei Raducu who plays for Luxol, Columbian Camilo Andres Vanegas Gomes and Georgian Gia Rashvili who both play for Valletta and Brazilian Celino Alves who is a semi professional futsal player who plays with Luxol. Some of these high level players are also coaching in the Maltese league, such as ex-international Croatian player Frane Despotovic who used to coache Luxol and was replaced by ex-international Romanian player Gabriel Dobre. Dobre is familiar to the Maltese futsal as he played with Tarxien and Balzan. Swieqi United were recently coached by ex-international Bulgarian captain Boicho Marev. The previously mentioned foreign players are also boosting local players to increase their performance and this is also reflected in the Malta Futsal National Team. Last September, the Maltese national team under the professional guidance of Dutch coach Vic Hermans, had a clinical first-half performance that paved the way for an emphatic 4-1 victory in a friendly match against Northern Ireland. For Hermans it’s the second spell with the Maltese national team. Since 1991 he has been working as a Futsal coach for FIFA. He has a successful portfolio both as a player and coach of both football and futsal. National Futsal Team of Malta The Malta Football Association is also targeting young generations and have recently introducing a new project aimed at Under-13 and Under-15 age categories by introducing them to the game of futsal. The newly-launched Futsal Retention Project comprises a series of futsal festivals, spanning on a five-month period between December 2018 and April 2019. UEFA is supporting this project by endorsing the proposal presented by the Malta FA earlier this year. The club nurseries of Balzan, Floriana, Ħamrun Spartans and San Ġwann participated in the first futsal festival, held on Saturday 1st December, at the basketball training courts in Ta’ Qali. “I came with Valletta Futsal without knowing anything about Malta and Maltese futsal but I came to know that in the league there are good teams with excellent players and coaches. Futsal in Malta is improving a lot and I’m happy to live in this beautiful island in the Mediterranean. I’m very grateful to the Maltese people and I hope I’ll play for a long time with Valletta Futsal which has become my second family.” Camilo Andres Vanegas Gomes – Valletta FC Futsal and Columbian National Futsal Team Player. “I used to play in the Spanish First Division but the club had a lot of problems with the payment of the players. I had offers from other Spanish clubs but the president didn’t want to release me and wanted to keep me for a three year contract. The only option for releasing me was only to an offer from a foreign club. My agent came to know Dr Duncan Borg Myatt, who was President of Hibernians Futsal, from the UEFA Cup competition. Hibernians at that time wanted a strong player to beat Balzan Futsal who were a very strong team. I accepted the offer Hibernians gave me and came playing in Malta in the end of season 2013/14. After that season I was preparing to go back to Spain but Luxol contacted me and I’m still playing with Luxol. I have been in Malta for five years now and I don’t regret choosing to play in the Maltese futsal league and most of all living in Malta.” Celino Alves – Luxol St Andrews Futsal Club Player Stephen Azzopardi is Library Assistant at the University of Malta Main Library, Sport Journalist with ONE Productions Ltd, Futsal Commentator for Melita plc's Malta Stars (Channe 614) and Futsal Press Officer for the Malta Football Association (MFA).