The musical band, called “Società Filarmonica Sinnai”, was formed in September 1919 immediately after the First World War, on the initiative of some former combatants joined by other willing citizens.
Among the promoters are the notary Tomaso Corvetto, Raffaele Palmas, Antonio Asuni, Giovanni Manca, Luigino Pisano, Lazzaro Murgia and Francesco Sotgiu.
The first rudiments of theory and solfeggio were taught by maestro Efisio Cintura who, already in poor health, soon worsened and had to abandon his commitment.
The task was then entrusted to maestro Adolfo Rachel who arrived in Sinnai on 20 January 1920. In July of the same year the band, directed by him, officially debuted.
From 1930 the direction was entrusted to the musician from Sinnai Guglielmo Murgia, a student of Rachel himself.
Under his direction, the Band achieved important recognition: in 1932 it won first prize at the Dopolavoro National Opera Competition and in 1950, at the Cagliari band competition, on the occasion of the Eucharistic Congress, it came first overall.
An essential contribution to the reconstruction of the history of the band from its foundation is due to the friend and researcher Gianfranco Manca, former band member and manager, who collected from the living voice of his father Eliseo, a clarinetist from the very beginning, testimonies and historical data regarding the events that accompanied the birth and the first decades of life of the “Società Filarmonica Sinnai”. In 1987, he then edited, on behalf of our association, a biographical profile of maestro Guglielmo Murgia on the occasion of the tenth anniversary of his death.
Other information is taken from documents kept in the Historical Archives of the Municipality of Sinnai and from articles published by the daily newspaper l’Unione Sarda in No. 256 of 19 September 1919 regarding the establishment of the association and in No. 132 of 2 July 1920 for the debut of the band in the square.
In 1981, after a decade of inactivity, the Association reconstituted the Municipal Band “G. Verdi”, thanks to the initiative of Luciano Leoni and other musicians of the old band who sent a request to the Municipality for the concession of suitable premises for the performance of rehearsals and lessons. The signatories of the document were: Pau Giovanni known as Riccardo, Pau Pietro, Asuni Fausto, Perseu Mario, Mereu Silverio, Punzi Matteo, Perra Giuseppe, Murgia Salvatore, Escana Angelo, Lai Antonio, Lecca Antonio, Manca Gianfranco, Belfiori Salvatore, Cardia Antonino, Aledda Alessandro, Asuni Eligio, Isola Raffaele, Serra Francesco, Frigau Aldo, Orrù Bruno, Tappara Angelo, Cinus Angelo, Luciano Leoni.
Teodoro Asuni, Fausto Pilleri and Luigi Serreli returned later.
The Municipal Administration was involved and adequately supported the project by establishing musical training courses, entrusting the task to teachers Matteo Punzi and Giampaolo Ghiani, with the purchase of musical instruments and with the concession of some rooms of the Municipal Art Gallery in Via Colletta, (Council Resolution No. 307 of 26/07/1982). The first lessons were given at the Elementary School in Via Eleonora d’Arborea.
The Band’s debut took place on September 11, 1982 with a concert in Piazza Chiesa under the direction of Maestro Remigio Aledda.
The Association was legally established on 20 April 1983 with a public deed registered on 21 April 1983 at the Registry Office of Cagliari at No. 2648.
By virtue of the patronage of the Municipality of Sinnai, it boasts the title of Municipal Band, guaranteeing cultural events and musical performances in accordance with a specific annual program agreed between the Association and the Municipal Administration.
With resolution of the Municipal Council No. 1 of 18/01/2011 and with a certificate from the Ministry of Cultural Heritage and Activities of 17/03/2011, the Association’s musical band was recognized as a popular and amateur music group of national interest.
Since its reconstitution, the Municipal Band has always been entrusted to valid masters: Remigio Aledda (1982 – November 1986), Francesco Pittau (December 1986 – July 1989), Andrea Saba (August 1989 – January 1992). Since January 1992, the direction has been entrusted to master Lorenzo Pusceddu, with whom the band has obtained important affirmations and recognitions in Italy and abroad.
The presidency has alternated between: Luigi Serreli, Francesco Demuro and since 1989 it has been represented by Salvatore Belfiori.
Dalla sua fondazione dedica una particolare attenzione alla formazione musicale attraverso l’organizzazione di corsi musicali, affidati a qualificati docenti e frequentati da molti allievi.
Since 1983 it has organized the traditional “New Year’s Eve” and “Spring” concerts and in the same year it reinstated the Easter Meeting and the Ceremony for the fallen in war. Furthermore, since 1986 it has organized the “Festa di S. Cecilia”, often proposing “new” ideas, such as the inclusion of pieces with fanfare, brass groups, choir, narrator and popular instruments. It has promoted and carried out research aimed at valorizing Sardinian music and composers by performing in its concerts works by: Giuseppe Dessy, Luigi Rachel, Lao Silesu, Raffaele Ascolese, Guglielmo Murgia and others.