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Romanian Folk Music
Romanian Folk Music
Romanian Folk Music
Dobrogea
Dobrogea's population is especially diverse, and there exist elements of
traditional Tartar, Ukrainian, Turkish and Bulgarian music among those
populations. The most popular dance from Dobrogea is the geamparale, which
is very different from the other traditional dances of Romania. In fact, Dobrujan
music is characterized by Balkan and Turkish rhythms.
Maramure and Oa
The typical folk ensemble from Maramure is zongora and violin, often
with drums. Taragot, saxophone and accordion have more recently been
introduced.
In Oa, a violin adapted to be shriller is used, accompanied by the
zongora. The singing in this region is also unique, shrill with archaic melodic
elements.
Moldavia (Moldova)
Violin and ambal are the modern format most common in Moldavian
dance music. Prior to the 20th century, however, the violin was usually
accompanied by the cobza. Brass ensembles are now found in the central part of
the county. Among the most renowned violinists from this region is Ion Drgoi.
There are also many musicians among the Csango, ethnic Hungarians who live
in the Siret Valley. Moldavia is also known for brass bands similar to those in
Serbia.
Transylvania
Transylvania has been historically and culturally more linked to Central
European countries than Southeastern Europe, and its music reflects those
influences.
Violin, viola and double bass, sometimes with a cimbalom, are the most
integral ensemble unit. At the beginning of the 21st century a few bands (such
as the Palatka Gypsy Band) still play these traditional instruments, while most
bands use newer instruments such as the clarinet or accordion. All these
instruments are used to play a wide variety of songs, including numerous kinds
of specific wedding songs.
Drum, guitar and violin make up the typical band in Maramure, and
virtuoso fiddlers are also popular in the area. In the end of the 1990s, the
Maramuzical music festival was organized to draw attention to the indigenous
music of the area.
Wallachia
Wallachia is home to the taraf bands, which are perhaps the best-known
expression of Romanian folk culture. Dances associated with tarafs include
bru, geamparale, srba and hora. The fiddle leads the music, with the
cimbalom and double bass accompanying it. The cobza, once widespread in the
region, has been largely replaced by the cimbalom. Lyrics are often about
heroes like the Haidouks. Taraf de Haidouks is an especially famous taraf, and
have achieved international attention since their 1988 debut with the label
Ocora. The Haidouks first attained visibility as lutari, traditional entertainers at
weddings and other celebratory occasions.
Muntenia
Muntenia has a diverse set of instrumentation. The flute (fluier in
Romanian) and violin are the traditional melodic element, but now clarinets and
accordions are more often used. Accordionists include the renowned performers
Vasile Pandelescu and Ilie Udil.
Oltenia
Oltenia's folk music and dance is similar to Muntenia. Violins and pipes
are used, as are ambal and guitar, replacing the cobza as the rhythmic backing
for tarafs. The cimpoi (bagpipe) is also popular in this region.
Doina
The most widespread form of Romanian folk music is the doina. There
are other styles of folk music. These include the bocet ("lament"), cntec
batrnesc (traditional epic ballads; literally "song of the elders") and the cnd
ciobanu i-a pierdut oile ("when the shepherd has lost the sheep").
Doina is poetic and often melancholic, sometimes compared to the blues
for that reason. Doinas are often played with a slow, free rhythm melody against
a fast accompaniment pattern in fixed tempo, giving an overall feeling of
rhythmic tension. Melodies are sometimes repeated in differing songs, and
typically follow a descending pattern.
Regional styles of doina:
De pahar - drinking song; pahar means "drinking glass".
Ducu Bertzi
Ducu Bertzi (Romanian pronunciation: [duku bertsi]; born September
21, 1955, Sighetu Marmaiei) is a Romanian folk musician. His songs are
usually his own compositions, but he also has in his repertoire some Romanian
folk songs.[1]
Life
Until going to high school, he studied the violin for 8 years, and from the
9th grade he started the rock band "Mi bemol rock" with a couple of friends.
With this band he would sing at high school serrates and ball-rooms Romanian
songs and songs from the repertoire of other band that were in fashion at that
time. In time, he renounced the electric guitar in favor of the acoustical one, due
to lack of high quality technical equipment. The literature association from his
hometown also inspired him to follow the paths of poetry. Later, at the first
poetry and folk music festival at Sighet, in 1973, he won the Grand Prize.
In 1976 he became part of the folk stage of "Cenaclul Flacra", and his
first radio recording was made in 1979 for the song "Cnd s-o-mprit norocu'"
("When luck was being distributed").
Since then, he has always been present on the national and European
music stages, the number of his concerts only until 1996 being greater than
3,200. Through his music, he tried to bring into the mainstream the poetry of
not-so-well-known writers that he encountered and who impressed him, thus
creating songs for their lyrics.
In parallel with his folk music career, he also revealed his talent on the
theater stage, and in a choir, under the guidance of master Ioan Luchian
Mihalea.
His best-known songs are "i de-ar fi..." ("If it would be..."), "Floare de
col" ("Edelweiss"), "M-am ndrgostit numai de ea" ("I fell in love with her
only"), "Suflet fr chei" ("Keyless soul"), "Omul pdurii" ("Man of the
woods").