TRADITIONS AND FOLKLORE

ROMANIA

The structure of Romanian traditional clothing has remained unchanged throughout history and can be traced back to the earliest times. The basic garment for both men and women is a shirt or chemise, which is made from hemp, linen or woollen fabric. This was tied round the waist using a fabric belt, narrow for women and wider for men. The cut of this basic chemise is similar for men and women. In the past those worn by women usually reached to the ankles while men's shirts were shorter and worn over trousers or leggings made from strips of fabric. Women always wear an apron over the chemise. This was initially a single piece of cloth wrapped round the lower part of their bodies and secured by a belt at the waist, as is still seen in the east and south east of Romania. In Transylvania and the south west of Romania this became two separate aprons, one worn at the back and one at the front.

Men's traditional clothing throughout Romania comprises a white shirt (cămasă), white trousers, hat, belt, waistcoat and or overcoat. Local differences are indicated by shirt length, type of embroidery, trouser cut, hat shape, or waistcoat decoration. In most areas shirts are worn outside trousers, which is the older style. This is a basic Balkan man's costume largely uninfluenced by fashions from west or east. Hungarian and Saxon men living in Romania wear trousers with a more modern cut often made of dark material rather than white. This reflects their closer ties, and more frequent communication, with the west.

ROUMANIAN FOLK COSTUME

The common fluier is the equivalent to our tin whistle, but made out of wood with the lower aperture of reduced diameter. These are found all over the Balkans. In Transylvania it is known as trisca. The larger version is known as the fluieroi.

The earlier forerunners of the violin such as the rebec, Slavic gusle or eastern kemene are found in all Romania's Balkan neighbours, but not in the existing folk music of Romania.

This is a development of the Persian santur that came to many European countries in the 11th century, becoming popular from the 17th to 19th centuries. It is a trapeze shaped soundboard with 20 to 35 courses of strings, which are struck with two wooden hammers. In English-speaking countries it is known as the dulcimer from dulce melos, Greek for sweet sound and in Germanic areas, it is called Hackbrett meaning chopping board or chopping block. In Romania it is know as ţambal, similar to the Hungarian cymbalom and Ukrainian tsymbaly

ROUMANIAN MUSIC

Any "dance" is a combination of elements: formation, regional style; motifs, musical rhythm, choreography and the social occasion. A change in one or more of these elements can give another dance, sometimes too subtle for a visitor to understand. As newer dance formations become fashionable these combine with elements of the existing music and dance repertoire to give new local variants. New melodies may be used for old dances and new dances danced to old melodies.

TRADITIONAL DANCE IN ROMANIA

ROUMANIAN MUSICIANS

Vladimir Cosma is a Romanian composer, conductor and violinist, born April 13, 1940 in Bucharest, Romania, into a family of musicians. Vladimir Cosma has since composed more than three hundred scores for feature films and TV series. Film music allowed him to approach and develop many different musical styles. A book of interviews with Vincent Perrot entitled « Vladimir Cosma comme au cinéma » was published in 2009 in the Editions Hors Collection and an anthology of his film music regrouping 91 complete original soundtracks in two volumes has just come out. Vladimir Cosma received two Césars for the best movie score, for Diva (1982) and Le Bal (1984), two Golden Sevens for the best music for television, as well as a number of prizes and awards in France and other countries. He has also obtained numerous gold and platinum records all over the world Vladimir Cosma is Chevalier de l'ordre National la Légion d’Honneur, Grand Officier du Mérite Culturel Roumain, as well as Commandeur des Arts et des Lettres.

VLADIMIR COSMA

Sergiu Celibidache  was a Romanian conductor, composer, and teacher. Educated in his native Romania, and later in Paris and Berlin, Celibidache's career in music spanned over five decades, including tenures as principal conductor for the Munich Philharmonic, Berlin Philharmonic and several European orchestras. Later in life, he taught at Mainz University in Germany and theCurtis Institute of Music in Philadelphia, Pennsylvania. Celibidache frequently refused to release his performances on commercial recordings during his lifetime claiming that a listener could not obtain a "transcendental experience" outside of the concert hall. Many of the recordings of his performances were released posthumously. Nonetheless, he earned international acclaim for celebrated interpretations of classical music repertoire and was known for a spirited performance style informed by his study and experiences in Zen Buddhism. His later career was marred by controversy and accusations of sexism and discrimination that came to light during a 12-year legal battle that dominated his tenure at the Munich Philharmonic.

SERGIU CELIBIDACHE

Edward Maya (born Eduard Marian Ilie; June 29, 1986Bucharest, Romania) is a Romanian musician, producer, performer, and composer. He graduated from George Enescu Music High School in Bucharest and is currently a final year student at the Bucharest Conservatory. In and around 2006, Maya worked with many other Romanian artists such asVikaJigulina, Blaxy Girls, DJ Sava, DJ Rynno. In the summer of 2009, Maya launched his first song as an artist, "Stereo Love", reaching No.2 in the Romanian singles charts. Later that year, "Stereo Love" became a hit in clubs all over the world.The song entered the top-5 singles charts in Austria, Denmark, Finland, France, Germany, Ireland, Italy, the Netherlands, Norway, Spain, Sweden, Switzerland, UK. This single has received over 200 million YouTube views since August 2009 and it is loved very much by young people.

EDWARD MAYA

"The central characteristic of the Romanian cuisine is its great variety. It is a cuisine influenced by repeated waves of different cultures: the ancient Greeks, with whom Romanians traded; the Romans, who gave the country its name; the Saxons, who settled in southern Transylvania; the Turks, who for centuries dominated Romania; as well as Slavic and Magyar neighbors. All of these influences gradually blended into the varied and delicious Romanian culinary tradition" (Nicolae Klepper — Taste of Romania)

The main ingredients used by Romanian chefs are meats such as pork, beef and lamb, fish, vegetables, dairy products and fruit. A traditional Romanian meal may include:

Appetizer

All kinds of cheeses, cold cuts and vegetable spreads.

A traditional drink enjoyed with appetizers is " ţuică " (a potent plum brandy) which varies in strength, dryness and bouquet according to the production area.

Soup

"Ciorbă de perişoare" (meatball soup), "ciorbă ţărănească " (vegetable soup, with or without meat), "ciorbă de burtă " (tripe soup).

Fish

"Saramură " (grilled carp in brine), "nisetru la grătar " (grilled Black Sea sturgeon) or "scrumbie la grătar " (grilled herring).

Entree

"Tocaniţă " or "tochitură " (meat stew seasoned with onions and/ or spices), "ghiveci " (over 20 vegetables cooked in oil), "sarmale " (pickled cabbage leaves stuffed with a mix of minced meats, rice and spices) and "mititei " (The "Wee Ones" - small skinless grilled sausages) are among the favorites.

Dessert

"Papanaşi " (cottage cheese donuts, topped with sour cream and fruit preserve), "clătite cu brânză " (crepes filled with cottage cheese, raisins and spices) and "cozonac " (traditional holiday sweet bread filled with walnuts, poppy seeds or cream cheese).

ROUMANIAN FOOD

Del Sorbo LuciaGuastafierro ChiaraCirillo DoraRavastini LoredanaForfora Annarita

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