The Origin and Evolution of Romanian Traditional Music

Romanian traditional music, a rich and diverse tapestry woven through centuries of cultural and historical influences, has its roots deeply entrenched in various regions along the Black Sea coast. From the Hostrop wedding style of music first documented around 1700 by Ottoman Moldavian composer Dimitrie Cantemir, to the modern-day popfolk traditions, Romanian music has evolved over time while maintaining a strong connection to its origins.

The Hostrop and Sarba: Early Documented Styles

One of the earliest documented forms of traditional Romanian music is the Hostrop. Composed by Cantemir, this music accompanied wedding dances and was widely embraced across the Black Sea coast regions, including Moldavia, Crimean Tatars, and Pontic Greeks, each region assigning it its own name. In Moldavia, it is known as Hostrop, while in Crimea it is called Haytarma, among the Karadeniz Turks from Gümü?ciehan it is referred to as Sksara, and among Pontic Greeks, it is known as Fona. In Bulgarian regions such as Dobrudja and the Budjak, it is called Rachenitsa and Geamparale respectively.

A related folkloric dance, the Sarba, also composed by Cantemir, has seen wide transmission. This dance, originally a Moldavian style, spread to Bulgaria and Serbia where it is known as Pravo Horo and Kolo respectively. By the early 19th century, Sarba had become a well-established style within the Ottoman Empire, evolving into the classical music tradition as a form of "Longa." This term, "Longa," translates to "long" in both Arabic and Turkish, indicating its extended nature.

Instrumental Evolution and Fanfare Music

The 18th century brought an array of musical instruments and styles to the forefront. Western travelers of the time noted the use of instruments such as the santur, mukum, qanun, nai, cheman, kemendje, tambura, and a long-necked lute, the tambura. Additionally, the Mehter music style, characterized by woodwind instruments, developed into the Romanian fanfare music, which gained influence in the Balkans. In 1870, the introduction of brass instruments by Bosnians in the Mehter tradition led to the evolution of modern Balkan fanfares.

Populistic and Emotional Music

The late 18th and early 19th centuries saw the rise of emotionally intense music known as Amenes (or manele). This style of music evolved into modern popfolk traditions with a mix of traditional elements and contemporary pop beats. While there is speculation about even older musical instruments and styles, there is no concrete evidence to support this.

The XIXth Century: The Peasant Influence and Modern Innovations

In the 19th century, the peasant class contributed significantly to the Romanian musical landscape. Instruments like the Tarabana, darbuka, dairea, bendir, cobza, Ottoman 'ud, nai, Panflute (musical shepherds' pipes), caval, and the Violin all became commonly used. The Violin, introduced through French soldiers during Napoleon's invasion of Egypt in 1798, quickly spread throughout the Ottoman Empire and reached the Wallachian and Moldavian courts during the Phanariote voivode period. Initially called sanecheman, it evolved to scripc in the 1830s, and later became known as viola.

The transition from the Ottoman period to the modern era can be seen in the innovation and re-Latinization of Romanian music. By the 20th century, Western classical music had established a presence in Romania, with composers like George Enescu significantly contributing to the evolution of traditional Romanian music into a hybrid form. This blend of tradition and modernity continues to define Romanian music today.