ROMANIA FACTS ABOUT ROMANIA Romania citizens invented fountain

ROMANIA

FACTS ABOUT ROMANIA • Romania citizens invented fountain pens, parachute chairs, insulin, etc. • Romania is Europe’s riches country in gold. • Romania’s currency, Leu, means “lion”. • The largest population of brown bears in Europe live in Romania.

ROMANIAN FOLK MUSIC • Folk music is the most important genre of music and is strongly supported by citizens of Romania. – Table discussion: What kind of music does the US support? Does it show strong support to American folk music? • Different regions produce different genres, including: – – – Dobrogea Moldavia Transylvania Wallachia Doina

POPULAR ROMANIAN MUSIC POP ROCK • Muzica usoara romaneasca (Romanian easy music) • Romania has an active rock scene and most musicians emulated (or copied) the west. • Romante • Muzica de mahala • Etno • Contemporary Romanian folk music – Table discussion: Compare and contrast Romanian pop with today’s US pop. • They were kept mostly underground until the revolution in 1989. • Many got their influence from the radio Free Europe. – Table discussion: what elements do Romanian and American rock share?

ROMANIAN POP (POPCORN) • Popcorn didn’t make a real appearance until the 2000 s-2010 s. • Made up of: – “Shiny” danceable melodies. – Hooks based on synthesizer accordions – Lyrics written in English. • Most critics don’t like it, considering it overly-repetitive, grating, and superficial. • Without Popcorn, we wouldn’t have this.

KLEZMER!! (THIS IS REALLY IMPORTANT TO ROMANIA). • Sometimes referred to as Freilich Music, which means “happy music”. – Does it sound happy? • Klezmer is heavily influenced by Romanian music (duh). • Despite it being mostly instrumental, it is based upon Jewish church music. – Why is this? • Why are they using string instruments? – Ukrainian/Romanian law did not allow them to make loud music in the 19 th century. • Klezmer was introduced to the US in 1920, but did not last long. – Table discussion: What were some possible reasons that klezmer died out in the US? • Jewish classical composers were influenced by klezmer.

KLEZMER!! (WHERE’D IT GO AND HOW DO WE DANCE TO IT? ). • Klezmer is an oral tradition passed down from parents to elders. • However, immigration and the Holocaust destroyed most traditional klezmer music. – Table discussion: Why would the Holocaust and immigration have destroyed this musical tradition? • Dances coming from klezmer includes: – Czardas – Horah – Polka – Waltzes – Tango • Temp (or speed) depends on dancers.

INSTRUMENTS Violin Flute Hammered dulcimer String bass Trumpet Clarinet