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Constantin Stanciu

'Cantaret de mahala'

Musicians:
Music and text - Constantin Stanciu
Instrumental ensemble conducted by Adrian Grigoras

Label - Electrecord

Extract from CD sleeve notes:
"The suburban song, also known as drink, fiddler's or gypsy song, is a genre of folk, vocal and instrumental music of the urban areas that developed mainly in the south and eastern part of the country. Its roots go down to the 17 century when gypsy singers who sang songs of the folk repertoire at the boyars' or princely courts began taking over, adapting and disseminating, especially in towns, Persian, Greek or Turkish songs and dances. The inspiration source was the protocol repertoire played by Turkish Military Music Band and singers and instrument players from Istanbul. The repertoire consisted of instrumental and vocal songs ("manea"), a kind of melancholic and love song.

... Fiddler players, men usually, were necessarily instrument players, some of them also singers. In some areas of the country (Oltenia, Maramures) there are also women fiddler players who sing or play the guitar. In some other parts of the country, women play the cembalo. Performers are mainly Romanian. but in the southern parts of the country they are gypsies, whose presence is documented since 1558. As an artistic personality, the gypsy fiddler player is at the same time composer and interpreter. He re-creates the song with each performance, according to traditional patterns. Hence the complexity of the interpretation style of suburban songs with many oriental accents, use of acute register, falsettos, rich ornamentation. The vocal is not necessarily playing an instrument. He is accompanied by a gypsy music band-violin, clarinet, cembalo, accordion, cello- where the vocal alternates with instrumental interludes, the so-called ritornele. Gypsies consider they are the only ones capable of making such music. Indeed, the best representatives of the genre were gypsies, Mann Teodorescu "Zavaidoc", Dona Dumitru "Siminica", Farimita Lambru. Constantin Eftimiu, Romica Puceanu were all gypsies. Nevertheless., most music fans in Romania, irrespective of gender, got a taste for the suburban song.

Constantin Stanciu was born in Ploiesti in 1944, in a family of fiddler players who sang in the high-class restaurants in town. His father was a drum player, the grandfathers were violin players while one of the cousins.. Simion Stanciu is a famous Pan flute player. At the age of five he began playing the accordion under his father's supervision. The training process was the traditional one in which the technique. accompaniment modes and repertoire were learned simultaneously by imitation and direct contact with the music. Ever since childhood. he used to accompany the singers in the neighbourhood. Innate qualities and perseverance helped him to further his studies. He graduated in the accordion class from the Music High School in Ploiesti, but learned to play cello as well. Though he specialized in key instruments from time to time he also played the guitar. He is not just a fiddler player, vocalist and orchestra chief...

In the 1980's, Constantin Stanciu composed his first manea: 'Mother do not die yet!' He interpreted the song at the accordion recorded it and wrote the lyrics He came to Bucharest to the house of Madame Romica and showed her his material. She thanked him but we do not know if she ever sang it.

Some time ago. Constantin Stanciu wanted to see if he can be a real "suburban singer" and started a repertoire of his own. The creation process began from the title which should be an emotional story touching the soul. Then the melody, the harmony, the orchestration Instinct goes beyond experience resulting in the notes on the music score. The lyrics reflect domestic life at the outskirts. First comes family drama: an ill mother. an orphan girl, poverty, wife deserting the husband and kids... the drunkard husband, love longing, the loneliness of the old and the rootless...

The exotic perfume of the songs, the warm voice of Constantin Stanciu induce a relaxed atmosphere, an escape from the daily tensions.

GBP 8.97

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Constantin Stanciu

'Cantaret de mahala'

This symbol  indicates an mp3 sound clip for that track. Click on the symbol and wait for the clip to start. For more information click here. Tracks

1. Cine nu are noroc (He who has no tuck) (4'25") 2. Fata din orfelinat (The orphanage girt) (5'13") 3. Pacat c-aa ti s-a-ntamplat (A pity what happened to you) (4'23") 4. Fata cu codita lunge (The girl with long ponytail) (5'13") 5. Ti-ai gasit pe-aftcineva (You love someone else) (5'08") 6. Ghicitoare, prezicatoare (Fortuneteller) (5'24") 7. Am avut si eu o mama (I had a mother) (4'54") 8. Un batran intr-un baston (Old man with a cane) (4'40") 9. Sunt fetith de la tare (I'm a little girl from countryside) (5'31") 10. Cantaret de mahala (Suburban singer) (3'59") 11. Saracie, saracie (Poverty, poverty) (6'36") 12. Am acum o droaie de copii (I have a fine lot of kids) (3'19") 13. Strangeti-va ai mei copii (Gather around me, my children) (5'32")

Duration (64'37")

Our mp3 samples are approximately 30 seconds long and of low(ish) quality for a fast download (file size app 300KB)