Speak Maltese - Days

http://youtu.be/inndfInYFS0

TheHuSkY1984

German-Maltese Circle History

It was on the 18th October 1962 that a small number of persons eager to enhance the propagation of German culture on the Island, accepted the invitation of Chev. Elias Zammit, M.B.E., K.M., then Consul General of the Federal Republic of Germany in Malta, to meet in his office, in what is today Republic Street in Valletta in order to form an Association with the aim of fostering better relations between the two nations. During this historic meeting, the members present, signed in the presence of the then German Ambassador for the United Kingdom, H.E. Dr. Hasso von Etsdorf, the Memorandum of Association, which gave formal and legal birth to the German-Maltese Circle. The members of this new Association, numbering then around 60 persons, started meeting regularly once a month in the office of the German Consulate in Valletta. Within a few months the first statute of the German-Maltese Circle was formulated and approved. Chev. Elias Zammit became the Circle's first President, a post he held until 1965. In 1964, the German-Maltese Circle organised its first public activities with the visit to Malta of the Bielefeld Youth Chamber Choir and with an active participation during the official visit in Malta of the German Navy Frigates, the "Graf Spee" and the "Hipper". Mr. John P. Pisani was the Circle's second President between 1965 and 1969. In November 1966, the German-Maltese Circle rented a small flat in Scots Street, in Valletta, where the members used to meet once weekly. During that same year, the Circle's Committee donated a collection of etchings on the Apocalypse by the famous German artist Albrecht Dürer to the Cathedral Museum in Mdina, where one can still admire it in what is commonly referred to as Dürer's Hall. The first German language courses organised by the German-Maltese Circle for adults were launched in April 1967. For want of proper space and facilities, these courses were then held in the premises of the Old University Buildings in St. Paul's Street, Valletta under the guidance of Rev. J. Milne, M.A., B.D. Following the course of some of the most hotly debated General Meetings in the history of the German-Maltese Circle, a new Statute was approved in December 1968. Through the assistance of the then German Ambassador to Malta, H.E. Dr. Karl Gustav Wollenweber, the German-Maltese Circle organised in November 1969 a grand concert with the participation of the famous German pianist Prof. Detlef Krauss. Dr Edwin L. Craig, M.D., was elected President of the German-Maltese Circle in 1969, to be followed in 1970 by Chev. Carmel Fenech. In November 1970, the German-Maltese Circle moved to a bigger flat situated in Gunlayer Street, Floriana. Amongst the activities which were organised to mark the official opening of this new premises, one can mention the Beethoven Exhibition, the concert by Prof. Ludwig Holscher and Prof. Karl Lautner and the planting of twenty-two trees in a part of Boschetto Gardens which part became henceforth known as the German Grove. In 1971, Professor Ralph Dahrendorf, then Under Secretary of State of the Federal Republic of Germany, paid an official visit to Malta. This visit turned out to be of utmost importance in establishing the German-Maltese Circle into the healthy Association we know today. On the initiative of the then German Ambassador, H.E. Baron York Alexander von Wendland, Professor Ralph Dahrendorf entered into discussions with the Circle's officials. He soon realised the potential and the important role which the German-Maltese Circle could play towards fostering a healthy atmosphere in the field of good relations between Germany and Malta. Through his direct intervention arrangements were made so that, the Circle receives financial assistance from the Government of the Federal Republic which funds go towards the promotion of the German language and culture. It is worthwhile recalling here that in the period between 1965 and 1975, the German-Maltese Circle made quite a name for itself in the field of social entertaining and sports activities. These very popular activities which were organised on a very regular basis were most important in promoting the Circle’s name and objectives, thus increasing its membership numbers. With membership always on the increase, with a bigger demand for the German language and with the Circle's Committee's wish to involve itself much more in the organisation of cultural activities, the need arose for the Circle to find a more central and spacious premises. It was therefore with great joy and with a deep sense of satisfaction to all that on the 23rd May 1975, the German Ambassador, H.E. Herr Hans-Joachim Steinbach together with the Hon. Dr. Anton Buttigieg, then Deputy Prime Minister and Minister of Justice, and in the presence of many distinguished guests, officially opened Messina Palace in St. Christopher Street, Valletta as the German-Maltese Circle's new premises. This majestic Palace, formerly known as Casa Rocca Grande, was built towards the end of the 16th Century by Fra Pietro La Rocca, Prior of Santo Stefano and later Admiral of the Fleet of the Order of St. John of Jerusalem. The number of cultural activities with the participation of Maltese and of German artists and personalities which were organised under the auspices of the German-Maltese Circle since then are too numerous and varied to be listed. Messina Palace has been the venue and has given a bigger and a more elegant dimension to the exhibitions, vocal and instrumental concerts, recitals, liederabends, lectures, forums, seminars and to all sorts of socio-cultural events organised or hosted there by the German-Maltese Circle. On the personal initiative of the German Ambassador H.E. Herr Kurt Schmidt, the German-Maltese Circle organised a Film Festival of German Opera in 1979. This proved to be one of the most successful landmarks in the Circle's list of cultural events, with literally thousands of people from all walks of life crowding the Republic Hall at the Mediterranean Conference Centre in Valletta and the Catholic Institute in Floriana to watch these masterpieces on film. Between 1980 and 1987 the German-Maltese Circle sponsored German-Maltese Vocal and Instrumental Concerts at the Cathedral Museum in Mdina under the direction of Mro Joseph Vella. The main feature of these concerts was the premiere performance of a musical score by a composer whose works lay in the archives of the Mdina Cathedral Museum.  These Concerts are considered as forming a vital part of Malta's musical history. The International Certificate Conference (ICC), a European Association whose aims are those of co-ordinating the work of Adult Education Centres in the field of tutor training and in the area of a uniform certificate system held one of its conferences in Messina Palace in November 1985. The German-Maltese Circle was at that time a member of the ICC. Through its collaboration with the Goethe Institute, the German-Maltese Circle can guarantee professional standards in its German language courses besides being the only examination centre in Malta which offers the well-known Goethe Institute Certificates. The Silver Jubilee Choral and Orchestral Concert with the participation of the Akkademja Chorus and Orchestra and of the Laudate Pueri Choir at the Cathedral Church in Mdina was the climax in a series of cultural events which were organised in 1987 under the Patronage of the then German Ambassador, H.E. Gottfried Pagenstert, a versatile personality who had great faith in the Association and who constantly worked towards enhancing the importance and popularity of the German-Maltese Circle not only locally but also in Germany. The German-Maltese Circle started organising in 1987 the German Pavilion at the International Trade Fair of Malta promoting Germany as Malta's largest trading partner - an event which has continued annually till 2002. An unprecedented decision by the Federal Government led to the German-Maltese Circle to acquire its own premises in 1989. The Federal Government in fact financed the purchase of Messina Palace which henceforth became the property of the Circle. Forty Years Federal Republic of Germany and twenty-five years of diplomatic relations between Germany and Malta in 1989 and in 1990 respectively, were two events commemorated by the Circle through the organisation of a varied programme of activities with the participation of Maltese and German personalities. 1990 also saw the visit to Messina Palace of the first President of a United Germany, H.E. Dr Richard von Weizsäcker. During that same year Deutsche Welle presented to the German-Maltese Circle a satellite TV reception system, while a group of a hundred youths from the former East Berlin were brought to Malta for a cultural visit with the assistance of the German-Maltese Circle. Another big success was registered with a German Music Week organised in 1998 under the patronage of H.E. Mr Gerhard Kunz who had replaced H.E. Dr Martin Florin as Ambassador of the Federal Republic in Malta. The highlight of this Week was a concert at St John’s Co-Cathedral in Valletta by the Konstanzer Kammerchor which attracted an audience of over 700.The German-Maltese Circle celebrated the 250th Anniversary of Goethe’s birth with the theatrical production of “Faust” at the Malta Drydocks in 1999. The year 2000 saw the launching of the German-Maltese Circle on the Internet. During that same year the Circle celebrated its 38th Anniversary with the performance of Mendelsshon's Oratorio "Paulus" at St John's Co-Cathedral in Valletta wi In 2001, H.E. Mr Georg Merten became Germany's Ambassador to Malta while Mr Albert Friggieri was elected as the new President of the German-Maltese Circle.  That same year, the Circle together with other European Cultural Centres represented on the Island, organised ILSNA - a musico-literary evening dedicated to the European Year of Languages (EYL) at the Nicolo Isouard Hall of the Manoel Theatre.  The EYL was also the theme for a Poster and Essay Competition organised by the German-Maltese Circle.  Hundreds of schoolchildren from all over Malta and Gozo submitted colourful posters for this Competition.  The year 2001 also saw the introduction of German language courses for schoolchildren at Messina Palace. The fortieth Anniversary since the foundation of the German-Maltese Circle in 2002 was  characterised by the many cultural events organised throughout the year amongst which was the contemporary dance production "Into the Blue" by the Jan Pusch Dance Company which performance took place at the Manoel Theatre. In January 2005 the German-Maltese Circle became a "Kulturgesellschaft des Goethe Instituts" (a Cultural Association of the Goethe Institute).  Also that year, the Circle brought over the Compagnie Fredewess to give a public performance of yet another contemporary dance production called "Body Motion" at the Manoel Theatre.  2007 saw the beginning of the presidency of Mrs Ingrid Kidder who thus became the first German and the first female to lead our Association.  The German-Maltese Circle celebrated its 45th Anniversary in 2007 which event culminated with the visit of the President of the Federal Republic of Germany, Prof. Dr. Horst Köhler to Messina Palace where he met German Nationals living in Malta. The German-Maltese Circle in collaboration with the Goethe Institute organised the First Festival of German Films at St James Cavalier in Valletta in 2009, an event which continues annually with great success.  That same year, the German-Maltese Circle was licensed as a Prüfungszentrum des Goethe Instituts, with the consequence that all Goethe Institute examinations became available in Malta.  Our Association took a leading role in the organisation of the Education Fair "Welcome to German!" which was held at the Maria Assumpta Girls Secondary School in Hamrun in October 2010.  This event, held under the patronage of the then German Ambassador, H.E.Mr Bernd Braun was visited by over 1000 schoolchildren learning German in schools in Malta and Gozo. Back to Top

© 2000 - 2014 German-Maltese Circle. All rights reserved.

http://www.germanmaltesecircle.org/history.htm

Speak Maltese - The Clock

http://youtu.be/dB1yGrqbnIA

TheHuSkY1984

Treasured Tribute of Spira Abela - Ray Sciberras

http://youtu.be/_DA1V_Biy8U

http://gordonzweb.com/raysciberras2/03_cds.php?id=2

German-Maltese Circle

http://www.germanmaltesecircle.org/

 The German-Maltese Circle was founded on the 18th October 1962 with the aim of "promoting closer understanding between Germany and Malta in all appropriate fields of activity and relationship, excluding political activities". From a very modest beginning with a membership of about 60 persons and with no fixed premises of its own, the German-Maltese Circle grew through the years into a leading national adult education and cultural centre housed in a beautiful palace in the middle of Valletta.

The German-Maltese Circle is an independent, non-profit making organisation which is administered by dedicated persons who freely oblige themselves to promote the Circle's ideals. To this end, the German-Maltese Circle has regularly organised various activities such as exhibitions, film shows, cultural tours, forums, lectures, seminars, concerts, choral performances by visiting German choirs, liederabende, social and sports events - in fact, anything which helps to make especially the Maltese public more conscious of German culture and the German way of life. Between 1987 and 2002 the German-Maltese Circle has been responsible for the Pavilion of German products and services in the Malta International Trade Fair. 

A newsletter is regularly issued to help keep in touch with the Circle's members.

A very important activity of the German-Maltese Circle is the organisation of German language courses to adults and to schoolchildren. These courses which are very well attended are run under the auspices of the Goethe Institute which has granted to the Circle a Teaching Commission with Examination Licence. The Circle also offers specialised courses in German (say, for hotels or business) as well as conversation classes in German and a course for Germans to learn Maltese. Amongst the facilities offered, one finds a well-equipped book, audio, video and film library, research and reference facilities, computer-aided learning software and German TV reception via satellite. Since 1981, the German-Maltese Circle has made it possible for persons resident in Malta to sit for the examinations offered by the Goethe Institute. Full cooperation is maintained by the Circle with the Embassy of the Federal Republic of Germany in Malta, the Goethe Institute, the Deutscher Volkshochschul-Verband and with many other German and local institutions.

It is impossible to mention the many personalities who have honoured by their presence the German-Maltese Circle, but perhaps one could mention Professor Ralph Dahrendorf, then Under-Secretary of State who having recognised the potential of our Association in the field of bi-lateral relations between the two countries, in 1971 approved the granting of regular financial assistance from the Government of the Federal Republic, Dr. Richard von Weizsacker who visited Messina Palace in 1990 as the first Federal President of a united Germany and President Prof.Dr. Horst Köhler in 2007.

Membership to the German-Maltese Circle is open to all persons over 18 years of age although persons between 14 and 18 years are accepted as Junior members.  The German-Maltese Circle also offers the possibility of Corporate bodies to become members.

Speak Maltese - Numbers

Maltese Numbers



http://youtu.be/d556rxtZy8o

Maltese in Argentina by Fr Lawrence E. Attard (The Great Exodus)

Maltese Argentina

Argentina presents a lonely exception to the review of Mediterranean and European lands which attracted Maltese emigrants. The Maltese never emigrated in significant numbers to Argentina, but Argentina and Brazil represent two pathetic efforts to establish a foothold in Latin America.

Mr. Henry Casolani, Malta's supreme spokes-man on emigration in the years 1919 - 1929, failed to realise the great potential of South America and his judgement on that continent has proved him historically wrong. Casolani's attitude to South America reflected the current prejudices of the time, when although the Maltese were urged to leave their island to save themselves and to spare their country, they were also advised to steer clear of South America.

Speak Maltese - Personal Pronouns and the Negative

http://youtu.be/nWCOMqgCB-U


TheHuSkY1984

Speak Maltese - Basic Expressions

Basic expressions in Maltese

http://youtu.be/c_4VjtCfUio