World Library of Folk and Primitive Music, Vol. XVII: Romania [Live]

World Library of Folk and Primitive Music, Vol. XVII: Romania [Live]

Editorial Reviews
Amazon.com
Unlike most of the CDs in the World Library of Folk and Primitive Music series, which were recorded in the field by Alan Lomax or his associates, the tracks on Romania were taken from the collection in the archive of the Folklore Institute in Bucharest. Consequently, the selections range over a much wider time span than other volumes in the series, which tend to focus on the varieties of music found at a specific time and place. The earliest recording here dates back to 1934 and features a medley of dance tunes played on fiddle. The latest is a long ballad recorded in 1958. The years in between include recordings of ritual hunting songs from Transylvania, a song to end a drought sung by a group of Gypsy children in Wallachia, and a fanfare played on an alpenhorn by a 19-year-old musician from the Carpathian Mountains. Even though the recordings were made over a long period of time and with equipment of varying degrees of sophistication, the sound quality is uniformly fine. As with the other CDs in the series, each of the tracks is well annotated in the accompanying booklet. --Michael Simmons

Tracks:

Overture: Semnal De Primavara - Loana Bud
Ritual Music: Pleaca June-ntr-un Vanatu - Romania
Ritual Music: Bate-s, Vante, Bate - Romania
Ritual Music: Jocul Caprelor - Sidor Andronicescu/Ilie Cazacu/Vasile mandrila
Ritual Music: Cantecul Cununii - Romania
Ritual Music: Paparudele - Romania
Ritual Music: Vaiet La Frate - Elisabeta Pavel
Ritual Music: De Petrecut - Romania
Ritual Music: Cantecul Miresei - Gheorghe Motoi/Florea Basaru/Petrica Manole
Dance Music: Ursareasca - Mihai Lacatus
Dance Music: Ca La Breaza - Gheorghe Enachescu
Dance Music: Ardeleana Pe Trei - Moise Zepa
Dance Music: Braul - Florea Netcu
Dance Music: Suita De Danturi De Jucat - Stefan Olar/Petre Huta
Dance Music: Putata Fetelor - Romania
Dance Music: Braul Pe Sapte - Nicolae Dobrica
Pastoral Music: Cand Ciobanul Si-a Pierdut Oile - Neculai Tafta
Doine: Cucule, Penele Tale - Maria Sas
Doine: De Codru - Florica Mazgoi
Doine: I-auzi, Mandra, Pitigoiul - Elena Constantinescu
Doine: Tine-mi, Doamne, Zilele - Maria Surupat
Doine: Ma Uitai Spre Rasarit - Maria Lataretu
Ballads And Epics: Colo Sus Pe Munte Verde - Maria Precup
Ballads And Epics: Iovan Iorgovan - Lache Gazaru/Stan Gruia
Ballads And Epics: Soarele Si Luna - Mitica Burcea
Lyric Songs: Pa Dealul Cerbalului - Nicolae Poanta-Husari
Lyric Songs: Scarbit Ii Omu Cu Gloata - Maria Surupat
Lyric Songs: Hei, Mai Mandriorule - Maria Taut
Lyric Songs: Marioara De La Munte - Elisabeta Enache/Elisabeta Arsene Maria Machedon
Lyric Songs: Trtandafir De Pe Razor - Petruta Novac
Lyric Songs: Tis Tu Munte - Arhand Musi/Andronica Caramitru
Lautari: Arcanul - Sidor Andronisescu/Ilie Cazacu/Vasile Mandrila
Lautari: Calusul - Ionel Dinicu
Lautari: Sa Iei Seama, Bade, Bine - Magdelena Biriescu/Caras Severin
Lautari: Ciocarlia - Fanica Luca

Amazon.com

Unlike most of the CDs in the World Library of Folk and Primitive Music series, which were recorded in the field by Alan Lomax or his associates, the tracks on Romania were taken from the collection in the archive of the Folklore Institute in Bucharest. Consequently, the selections range over a much wider time span than other volumes in the series, which tend to focus on the varieties of music found at a specific time and place. The earliest recording here dates back to 1934 and features a medley of dance tunes played on fiddle. The latest is a long ballad recorded in 1958. The years in between include recordings of ritual hunting songs from Transylvania, a song to end a drought sung by a group of Gypsy children in Wallachia, and a fanfare played on an alpenhorn by a 19-year-old musician from the Carpathian Mountains. Even though the recordings were made over a long period of time and with equipment of varying degrees of sophistication, the sound quality is uniformly fine. As with the other CDs in the series, each of the tracks is well annotated in the accompanying booklet. --Michael Simmons

Customer Reviews:

Not primitive.......2004-05-02

Clearly has great historic value, good quality recording!

Romanian Village Music for Folklore Enthusiasts.......2002-04-06

I was *not* disappointed. I can listen to this CD for hours: raw instruments and natural voices playing unfamiliar rhythms and tunes with "other worldy" sounds: evocative of a more natural life! It contains a vast expanse of village music, from throughout different regions of Romania. The music is "authentic" in that it is "folk music": i.e., songs & instruments played by villagers & sung by villagers... Nothing against learning via lessons --- however, let's face it: when you sing and play from the heart, it is quite different than reading notes in a book and repeating patterns ... This is a collector's item!!! I was enormously *pleased* it was reissued for our listening pleasure. (BTW, if you want to play along with clarinet or sax - go listen to Greek music. Lots of room for improvsiation there ...) Erika Borsos (erikab93)

Interesting... but not recommended unless -.......2002-02-01

I played this CD right after picking up my saxophone, which I hadn't done in a few years. The first track and I got along fine; in fact we sounded the same: unschooled, rough.

This CD would be great for a scholar of music interested in eastern European folk music.

Me? I listened to it straight through, once. The liner notes were a great insight in to the background of the songs and musicians. I won't give it a second listen though.

Don't let the word "Primitive" fool you...........2002-01-11

Don't let the word "Primitive" fool you....the instruments may be "primitive", but the performances are most certainly not.

Music Review: