Maestro
Joseph Stivala was born in Naxxar in 1897 and since he was young he felt the
urge to start studying music. He started as a bandsmen with the La Valette Band,
he played with the Royal Malta Artillery and he used to teach at the Military
School. His natural talent in the musical art which he improved and developed
led him into new directions. He became the Band Director with "Melita"
of Tunisia. On leaving Tunisia to settle in Malta he was immediately appointed
as Band Director of various Maltese and Gozitan band clubs, amongst them the
Leone Band and the La Stella Band of Victoria (Rabat), Gozo.
Maestro Joseph Stivala was
the Band Director of the De Paule band between 1935 and 1948. During this
period, the people of Paola could admire first hand his ability in composing
music and in directing the band. Among his compositions, which one must say were
of a high classical level, one can find symphonic marches, festive marches,
funeral marches and symphonies like the famous "PATHETIQUE" which was
first played at the British Institute by the Admiral Orchestra which was under
the direction of Maestro Francesco Bellizzi. One must also not forget the famous
"Shoulder to Shoulder", a classical march in which he managed to unite
the National Anthems of Malta and of the United Kingdom. In this
composition, which was written at the end of the Second World War, Mro. Stivala wanted
to express through music how the English and the Maltese worked hand in
hand and shoulder to shoulder. Another important composition was the Popular
March dedicated to the Banda De Paula which is played annually during the Paola
Parish Feast of Christ the King.
