Dr Philip Ciantar

Dr Philip Ciantar

Dr Philip Ciantar

 B.Ed.(Hons)(Melit.),M.A.(Dunelm),Ph.D.(Sheff.),L.L.C.M.

Senior Lecturer

Room 125
Old Humanities Building (OH)
University of Malta
Msida
  +356 2340 2987
Philip Ciantar is a senior lecturer in music at the School of Performing Arts, where he teaches courses in ethnomusicology, world music, methods of research in music, Mediterranean music of the oral tradition, and Maltese popular music. Following his first degree from the University of Malta, he furthered his musical studies at the University of Durham (UK) where he graduated with an MA in music (ethnomusicology). In 2006, he graduated with a PhD from the University of Sheffield with a thesis focused on the Arab Andalusian music of Libya (ma’lūf). He served as Head of the Music Studies Department between 2016 and 2020. His publications include entries in The New Grove Dictionary of Music and Musicians, The Continuum Encyclopedia of Popular Music of the World, Bloomsbury Encyclopedia Of Popular Music of the World, The SAGE International Encyclopedia of Music and Culture and various articles in ethnomusicology. He is the author of The Ma’lūf in Contemporary Libya: An Arab Andalusian Musical Tradition (Ashgate 2012; Routledge 2016) and Studies in Maltese Popular Music (Routledge 2021)

In addition to his work in ethnomusicology he is also active as a composer with works for voice, symphonic orchestras, brass ensembles, concert bands, and string orchestras. Dr Ciantar is Co-Chair of the Music in the Arab World Study Group and Liaison Officer for Malta of the International Council for Traditional Music (ICTM).
  • Oral Music Traditions of the Mediterranean
  • World Music Analysis
  • Learning Styles of the World's Musicians
  • North African Music
  • Maltese Popular Music

CIANTAR, P., 2021. Studies in Maltese Popular Music. London and New York: Routledge https://www.routledge.com/Studies-in-Maltese-Popular-Music/Ciantar/p/book/9780367648480.

CIANTAR, P., 2019. 'Libya: History, Culture, and Geography of Music'. In: J. STURMAN, ed, The SAGE International Encyclopedia of Music and Culture. Thousand Oaks, California: SAGE Publications, Inc., pp. 1337-9.

CIANTAR, P., 2018. 'Beyond the Music and Spectacle: Interdisciplinary Teamwork, Ethnomusicology, and the Study of a Maltese Wind Band Performance'. In: S. AQUILINA and M. SARCO-THOMAS, eds, Interdisciplinarity in the Performing Arts: Contemporary Perspectives. Malta: Malta University Press, pp. 61-80.

CIANTAR, P., 2017. 'Għana'. In: PAOLO PRATO AND DAVID HORN, ed, Bloomsbury Encyclopedia of Popular Music of the World. London: Bloomsbury, pp. 326-30.

CIANTAR, P., 2017. 'Makjetta'. In: PAOLO PRATO AND DAVID HORN, ed, Bloomsbury Encyclopedia of Popular Music of the World. London: Bloomsbury, pp. 478.

CIANTAR, P., 2017. 'Organett'. In: PAOLO PRATO AND DAVID HORN, ed, Bloomsbury Encyclopedia of Popular Music of the World. London: Bloomsburry, pp. 564.

CIANTAR, P., 2015. 'Ma'lūf (in Libya)'. In: RICHARD C. JANKOWSKY, ed, Bloomsbury Encyclopedia of Popular Music of the World. London: Bloomsbury, pp. 65-8.

CIANTAR, P., 2015. 'The Musical Tradition of Ma'lūf in Libya: Rethinking Memories from the Field'. Libyan Studies, 46, pp. 145-50.

CIANTAR, P., 2014. 'The Maltese Composer Charles Camilleri: His Life and Musical Style', H. FRENDO, ed. In: Towards Independence and Beyond, January 2014 2014, Central Bank of Malta, pp. 57-63.

CIANTAR, P., 2012. The Ma'lūf in Contemporary Libya: An Arab Andalusian Musical Tradition. Farnham: Ashgate; Reprinted in 2016 by Routledge (London); https://www.routledge.com/The-Maluf-in-Contemporary-Libya-An-Arab-Andalusian-Musical-Tradition/Ciantar/p/book/9781315555751.

CIANTAR, PHILIP AND FRANCO FABBRI, 2012. 'Introduction'. Journal of Mediterranean Studies (Special Issue on Musical Translation in the Mediterranean), 21(2), pp. vii-xii.

CIANTAR, P. and FABBRI, F., eds, 2012. Journal of Mediterranean Studies (Special Issue on Musical Translation in the Mediterranean). 21(2) edn. Malta: University of Malta Press; https://muse.jhu.edu/issue/37071.

CIANTAR, P., 2010. 'North African Music'. Classroom Music, Summer Term(1), pp. 1-12.

CIANTAR, P., 2006. 'Nostalgia, History and Sheikhs in the Libyan Ma’lūf: Contemporary Listening in the Shadows of the Past', E. EMERY, ed. In: Muwashshah: Proceedings of the Conference on Arabic and Hebrew Strophic Poetry and its Romance Parallels, 8-10 October 2003 2006, SOAS, pp. 55-70.

CIANTAR, P., 2005. 'Malta'. In: J. SHEPHERD, D. HORN and D. LAING, eds, Continuum Encyclopedia of Popular Music of the World. New York: Continuum, pp. 258-62.

CIANTAR, P., 2005. 'Tripoli’s Musical Soundscape: Experiences and Meanings'. Libyan Studies, 36, pp. 79-88.

CIANTAR, P. and SEBAI, A.M., 2005. 'Libya'. In: J. SHEPHERD, D. HORN and D. LAING, eds, Continuum Encyclopedia of Popular Music of the World. New York: Continuum, pp. 67-70.

CIANTAR, P., 2003. 'Continuity and Change in the Libyan Ma’lūf Musical Tradition'. Libyan Studies, 34, pp. 137-46.

CIANTAR, P., 2002. ‘Carnival Musicking and Organett Ensembles in Gozo'. The Sunday Times of Malta(10 February), 45.

CIANTAR, P., 2001. ‘Music, Language and Style of Maltese Folk Music’. The Sunday Times of Malta(18 November), 34.

CIANTAR, P. and MOORE, S., 2001. 'Malta [Traditional]'. In: S. SADIE, ed, The New Grove Dictionary of Music and Musicians. 2nd Edition edn. London: Macmillan, pp. 233-41.

CIANTAR, P., 2000. 'From the Bar to the Stage: Socio-cultural Processes in the Maltese Spirtu Pront'. http://www.umbc.edu/MA/index/number5/ciantar/cia_0.htm edn.

__LecturingPortfolio
Selected Performed Compositions

2019. Ja Baħar ('Oh Sea'). An aleatory for solo clarinet. First Performance by Luca Cipriano
at the Universita' degli Studi di Roma, Tor Vergata (May 2019). Duration: 5 minutes.

2017. Deformation. A composition for concert band. First Performance by the University of
Malta Wind Ensemble at the University of Malta (October 2017). Duration: 3 minutes.

2014. Doqquli n-Noti Tqal. A triptych for baritone voice and clarinet (with optional
percussion) on words by Oliver Friggieri. First Performance by Noel Camilleri (clarinet),
Miguel Rosales (baritone), and Luke Baldacchino (percussion) at the University of Malta (June
2014). Duration: 10 minutes.

2009. Fil-Bar tal-Kantuniera. A classical song for soprano and piano on words by Oliver
Friggieri. First performance by Rosabelle Bianchi (soprano) and Alexei Galea Cavallazzi
(piano) at Sala Isouard, Valletta (December 2009). Recorded on CD 'Riflessi–Art Songs from
Malta'(2015)(Miriam Cauchi, Soprano; Maria Frendo, Piano). Duration: 6 minutes.

2008. Fanfare for Orchestra. A free-standing composition for orchestra. First performance by
the Malta Philharmonic Orchestra conducted by Michael Laus at The Palace, Valletta (January
2009). Duration: 4 minutes.

2006. Istiftāh ('Opening'). An aleatory for solo alto saxophone. First performance by Joseph
Vella at the University of Malta (July 2006). Duration: 3 minutes.

2001. Għar Dalam. A suite in three movements for concert band. First performance by the La
Valette Band conducted by Joseph Sammut at the Catholic Institute, Floriana. Recorded on CD
by the Sheffield University Wind Orchestra conducted by Anthony Houghton (2009). Duration: 12
minutes.

1997. A Song for Sunset. A free-standing composition for string orchestra. First performance
by the Johann Strauss School of Music Orchestra conducted by Mario Bisazza at St. Paul's Pro-
Cathedral, Valletta (May 1998). Duration: 4 minutes.

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