Vadu Izei

Transcription

My first experience as a violin player is tied to a neighbour of mine whose name was Duma Vasile; he gave me the start, so to speak. He was the first one to attune my violin, which was a key moment for me. Perhaps if I tried to mention everyone who had brought their contribution I would omit some of them and they would get upset. But you can never forget that first person. Music always attracted me, so to speak… whenever I heard it. Back in the days there were not many devices and we did not have electronic equipment such as stereo systems. We finally got a radio, but much later; even so, we did not have electric power so we needed batteries, and so on. Nowadays you can hear music on any cellular phone. Back then, when we were listening to music, we had an overwhelming feeling, we were moved by it. Neighbours in our village used to get together, not like today when everybody is in front of their TV-set. They used to get together, bring some brandy; of them knew how to play the flute, for example. After drinking a glass or two, they would request songs that can still be heard… there are many things that can be said about each and every one of these songs. This is what we were doing… there was no need for much planning, the party was ready in a few moments! Some bacon, a glass of brandy because we had plenty of it… people were singing, telling stories about the army, and this is how the songs were imprinted on my mind, so to speak. People were claiming their songs and we all knew whose songs they were – this is Horea’s song for example, and so on… we were attaching the singer’s name or nickname to the song. As a musician, I was lucky to live at a time when parties were different; the entire party was a show. Those shows were not like the ones we have now; the music was everywhere, like a base coat. Each person was singing; it was their music. Everybody had their favourite song, asking the musicians to play their requests: “please play this one, play that one…please, play a song for dancing…” Nobody was hiding behind speakers, nobody was hiding… Unfortunately, the traditional system lets to be desired. Nowadays performers use the electric violin, the meter is based on the organ or synthesizer rhythm; weddings and events in general become a show. You have the main singer and the band in the background; the band is already simplified because of financial reasons. If we are not careful, the authentic folklore will gradually disappear. If we do not stick to the authentic way of playing, the performers who come after us will inherit a flawed, homogenized play-by- ear version of it. All young people are charmed by our folklore, but they learn what they hear. They prefer, as you had already said it, what is easy to catch. Mass-media shares a big part of the blame. Why? Because it promotes the easy and the fake. Very few people are able to sing “live”, they say it now…everybody says that they play “live” in Romanian too, which actually means “we are playing the song NOW, with you!” Vasile, for example, preserves the authentic folklore no matter where he goes. Mister Professor, if he has the necessary studies, must know that folklore is art and that it is defined by what it praises. In folklore you will find dancing, not only from Maramures, and music for the spirit too. I do not know why but I have a feeling that nowadays music does not fuel the spirit anymore, but the instinctual needs. If we consider for example the dances based on contemporary oriental rhythms like the “manele” songs, what do they look like? What do they become…what do those exercises, as I like to call them, express? What do they stand for? They are created for the instinct; they do not address the spirit. The weddings where we are performing need exactly the songs we are playing. It is exactly what they need. The most important thing is that it looks good on camera, that it is appreciated in Spain, and we get the opportunity to represent our region “the tribe with the small hats” – in front of everyone. This is what keeps alive and enriches the traditional wedding. If it were not for our pride, I do not know if our tradition would survive. Last Saturday I attended a wedding where the musicians played traditional music from Maramures only. It is the only pure traditional wedding I have been to for the past few years. The only one. The groom and the bride wanted it to be like that. Everything, even the clothing was traditional. I had left before the wedding was over so I do not know if they played music on the laptop or not at some point. I don’t think it is the case. The centres for cultural events here in Maramures throughout the country have rusty locks on. The locks are rusty, so what would one expect to find inside… surely, cultural activities. I am very happy that we have a living museum in our home. It is an outstanding accomplishment… adaptare in limba engleza Oana Curteza