This type of instrument is reserved for use inside churches during Holy Week. It is made up of a flat piece of strong wood with a space cut into it for gripping. In the centre a metal handle is attached on one side or on both. The handle would have been made at the local forger (ħaddied). When the instrument is shaken or rotated the metal handles clap against the wood.
The photo shows a replica of instruments found in several churches in Valletta.
One of the oldest (probably 17th century) is to be found in the Lija parish.
Others are in St John's Cathedral, Tal-Karmnu in Valletta, St Paul Shipwrecked, the Jesuits' Church in Valletta, in Balzan, Żebbuġ... (For photographs of these see my Musical Instruments of the Maltese Islands...)
Iċ-Ċuqlajti għandhom storja twila u antika ħafna. Sa miż-żmien bikri, kienu jitqiesu li jkeċċu x-xjaten bil-ħoss tagħhom. Fil-medjuevu daħlu fil-knejjes fil-Ġimgħa Mqaddsa meta il-qniepen tal-knisja (barra u ġewwa) ma kenux jindaqqu iżjed bħala sinjal ta' rispett lejn Ġesu msallab, u flokhom bdew jintużaw strumenti tal-injam - li saru simbolu tas-salib.
One of the oldest (probably 17th century) is to be found in the Lija parish.
Others are in St John's Cathedral, Tal-Karmnu in Valletta, St Paul Shipwrecked, the Jesuits' Church in Valletta, in Balzan, Żebbuġ... (For photographs of these see my Musical Instruments of the Maltese Islands...)
There is an interesting story to this particular type of ċuqlajta - the Italian Jesuit scholar Filippo Bonanni (1638-1723), author of Gabinetto Armonico, strongly objected to its use because of the addition of metal. He insisted that the instrument should be made solely of wood, since wood signified Christ and the cross upon which he was crucified. His comment indicates that the instrument must have been widely in use in the early 18th century, but we can see that in spite of his objections, it continued to be used.....and was also used in the Jesuits' Church in Malta.
Iċ-Ċuqlajti għandhom storja twila u antika ħafna. Sa miż-żmien bikri, kienu jitqiesu li jkeċċu x-xjaten bil-ħoss tagħhom. Fil-medjuevu daħlu fil-knejjes fil-Ġimgħa Mqaddsa meta il-qniepen tal-knisja (barra u ġewwa) ma kenux jindaqqu iżjed bħala sinjal ta' rispett lejn Ġesu msallab, u flokhom bdew jintużaw strumenti tal-injam - li saru simbolu tas-salib.
Il-Ġizwita Taljan Filippo Bonanni (1638-1723) kien kontra l-użu ta' din it-tip ta' ċuqlajta peress li kellha l-ħabbata tal-metal. Insista li kellha tkun magħmula mill-injam biss, għax dak kien is-simbolu tas-salib ta' Kristu. Minkejja l-oġġezzjonijiet tiegħu naraw li dan it-tip ta' strument xorta waħda baqa' jintuża - saħansitra fil-knisja tal-Ġiżwiti tal-Belt, Malta.
Ara Campus FM, Rittmi Mlewna,
Intervista ta' Silvio John Camilleri, 22.31-33.52
Anna Borg Cardona, Musical Instruments of the Maltese Islands - History, Folkways and Traditions (Malta: FPM 2014) 48-49.
