International Roma Day – Enescu and Music of Romanian Putstants

The International Roma Day is celebrated annually on April 8 in honor of recognizing the culture, history and rights of millions of Roma from all over the world, but also to draw attention to the discrimination challenges facing Roma communities in Europe, notes the website of the European Roma Center.

The day was officially declared in 1990, in Serock, Poland, at the fourth World Congress of the International Roma Union (IRU).

As it is known, George Enescu had a great appreciation for the music of the musicians. The great composer and Romanian performer corresponded with some of the brightest fighters of his time, from his musical formation in childhood, with the village country, to collaborations in room music and on the concert podium.

George Enescu valued the musician music because he represented, as he confessed, a true « treasure » from which the great musician knew how to collect the most precious songs.

First musical music experience

« Long before I was eight years old, when I had only three, I accidentally heard a Gypsy Taraf singing in a spa resort in the vicinity of our village, » recalled George Enescu in the dialogue with Gavot, the musical critic. Next, amazed: « Curious Taraf, made up of a mare, from a few violins, a tambal and a bass! I think I was still very impressed, because, the next morning, I played trying to stretch a thread sewing on a piece of wood and, as a whole, I had a violin. We imitate the river ”.

« Theirs, the Gypsies, in an interview about the Romanian music, thank them for keeping our music, this treasure that we can only value. Only the people have unearthed, passed it and gave it from a father to son, with that holy care what they have for what is more expensive in the world ».

Moreover, in 1928, George Enescu confessed to Professor Nelu Ionescu that the music of the musicians was a source of inspiration: « Romanian music to be closer to her natural source … I took long after the music of the musicians, not after school. »

Laie Chioru, the first musician known by Enescu

Viorel Cosma wrote in the « musical actuality » that Enescu had as close collaborators of six great musicians. « The first teacher of the child in Liveni was Nicolae Filip, said Laie Chioru from Râurenii Moldovei. Musical illiterate, Laie learned on the little Jurjac some folk songs and games, after the ear. One day, she confessed Enescu in » Memories « , calling her father and singing » Danube! ». As at that time (the years 1885/86) there was no disc, radio or television, the source of the reproduction of the song after the ear could only be either the teacher, or the military band heard in the Park of Slănicul Moldovei, the spa station visited by his family members. On Laie Chioru, however, Enescu portrayed in the song Lăutarul, from the suite « childhood impressions », a relevant sign that the popular bard had deeply marked the little musician « .

Tambalist Lică Ștefănescu and Enescu

Tambalist Lică Ștefănescu was another close collaborator of the great musician. « At the age of 19, he appeared in a concert in Paris, from 1900, another great musician in the Enescian entourage: Tambalist Lică Ștefănescu. Happy professional meeting: Enescu worked at the two » Romanian Rapsodii « , so that the classic repertoire attacked by Lică Ștefănescu (Chopin, Durand, Herold). The score that deeply rocked the young Romanian composer, ”notes Viorel Cosma.

Enescu noted over 40 songs from the Cristache Ciolac Putstar

Enescu would meet in 1900 other two famous musicians who would mark him. « At the Universal Exhibition in Paris (1900) he met Sava Pădureanu and Cristache Ciolac. From the last box, he noted over 40 songs, but Ciolac transmitted to the violinist Enescu all the technical » marambones « of the Romanian musicians: the false bracelet, Glissando on the rope, on the rope, Strings, but especially the vibrato, with all its shades.

Enescu has concerted with the Lutist Nicu Buică

Nicu Buică was the most famous Romanian musician who managed to become known internationally. Enescu sang with him in several events. « The Lutărul with the most spectacular international career (in 3 continents) from the beginning of the 20th century, cherished by Enescu for the concert performances between the classic and the popular, was Nicu Buică. He made his apprenticeship (together with the tambousist Lică Ștefănescu) at the famous Restaurant of Bucharest. Nicu Buică supported recitals with Pianists/composers Filip Lazăr and George Enescu. Buic, you are not a man, you are a devil! ».

Gheorghiță Dinicu, Enescu’s soul musician

The nearest soul lover of George Enescu a Gheorghiță Dinicu, the brother of the conductor and cellist Dimitrie Dinicu, the two virtuos being promoted by Enescu at the Royal Court of Peleș Castle in Sinaia. « The violin teacher from the Conservatory, Gh. A. Dinicu, had inherited from his father, the famous Naist Angheluș Dinicu (the author of Ciocârliei), all the features of the figs of the old dynasties, but had gathered in 10 volumes printed all the traditional repertoire of the musician of the musicians, popular on which the Romanian cultured art will be built from the 20th century The age of 50 and 55 of Enescu (organized by the Society of Romanian Composers), at the Universal Exhibitions in Paris (1937) and New-York (1939), at the resumption of the premiere of the « Oedipe » Opera in the capital of France (1937), at the meetings of the Arlus Association, at the concerts of the artistic team of the Great State of the Armed (1941-1945), at the apparent dinners from the Continental Restaurant, etc., Enescu’s meetings with Grigoraș Dinicu were moments of soul, ”writes Viorel Cosma.

« Dear Dinicule, sing something to rest me. I miss being quiet, » he asked the great musician to his friend. In many concerts, Enescu combines the music of some famous composers with the one collected from the Romanian musicians.

Taking advantage of this day, we invite you to listen to the violin work fiddlerwhich is part of the violin and piano suite of childhood impressions, op.28 by George Enescu, played by Gabriel Croitoru on Viara Guarneri del Gesù – Cathedral, a violin who belonged to the composer.

Sources: https://www.ziarulmetropolis.ro/george-enescu-si-lautarii-dinaastici-bucuresteni/; https://adevarul.ro/stiri-locale/; https://www.georgeenescu.ro/stiri-noutati_doc_556_muzica-alautarilor-care-au-inspirat-pe-gaorge-Enescu-la-Sala-Radio_pg_0.htm.