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Andrei Mihalache and his Ensemble

'The Songs of Andrei Mihalache'

Musicians:
Andrei Mihalache - voice, accordion
Ion Gherghina - vioara, violin
Ilie Alecu - tambal mare, large cimbalom
Constantin Nichita - contrabas, double bass

Label - Ethnophonie, Romania
Released 2008

With 24 page booklet in Romanian and English, including photos and information on the music and musicians.

Cântarile lautaresti ale lui Andrei Mihalache/
The Songs of Andrei Mihalache

This release is the first in a series from the Etrhophonie label presenting a traditional urban music: Muzica Lautareasca. It is considered by some Roma as having a unique and authentic Gypsy identity. Andrei Mihalache, who is featured on these recordings, is one of its last and best representatives. Together with his ensemble they play and sing the music preferred by the lautari and their wives: lyric songs, prisoner’ songs, wedding music and dance music.

Extract from sleeve notes:
Lautareasca music and Roma musicians

In the 1940s-1970s, lautareasca music reached its heyday: one of popularity, but an esthetical one too, which only today, several decades later, can be valued at its worth. Its elite representatives, who have become legends, are: Fanica Vi5an, Dona Dumitru Siminica, Faramita Lambru, Aurel and Victor Gore, Romica Puceanu, Gabi Lunca-to evoke just a few. The media of communist Romania, however, when it didn't take it off the air altogether, barely promoted lautareasca music. The reason, formulated in an imperative manner by those in charge of party propaganda, and accepted in honest confidence by the heads of cultural institutions: it is not "purely Romanian" (meaning it is suspect of being Gypsy), therefore it tarnishes the sacrosanct ,character" of national culture. Indeed, lautareasca music has a significant Gypsy component, given that the overwhelming majority of lautari in southern Romania are Roma (who, as a matter of fact, prefer to be named Gypsy, so as to mark the difference-and superiority-with respect to other categories of Roma). But equally significant about it is the fact that those who create and spread it belong to the musicians' corporation. Which of the two constituents has played the decisive role? One answer to this question is proffered by Andrei Mihalache, the protagonist of this CD.

Andrei Mihalache and his outlook on lautareasca music

Andrei Mihalache was born in the village of Micsunesti, Ilfov county, about 50 km north of Bucharest. His father, the renowned violinist and singer Iancu Ciupitu, formed his son in the style-and repertoire-characteristic of the Muntenian plain. Since childhood, Andrei has accompanied his father to weddings, singing and playing the accordion, which at the time was an unusual feature in the Romanian music of the countryside. When he grew up, he moved to the capital and specialized in lautareasca music, while keeping his ties to rural music; moreover, he made transpositions in lautaresc style of the village pieces he liked most. For decades on end he performed at country and city parties, but also for patrons of swanky pubs in Bucharest. He is the head of a close-knit family, the men of which are ambitious, hard-working musicians....

GBP 9.97

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Andrei Mihalache and his Ensemble

'The Songs of Andrei Mihalache'

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. Cantec de ocna/ Jail song: Intr-o celula-ntunecoasa (3'33")

2. Cantec/ Song: Ma tine lumea cu bani (6'45")

3. Cantec/ Song: Znima de putregai (2'46")

4. Cantec/ Song: Cucule de unde vii (7'42")

5. Cantec de ocna/ Jail song: Si-ntr-o joi de dimineata (4'47")

6. Cantec/ Song: Mai da omul de belele (6'03")

7. Cantec/ Song: Pe ulita armeneasca (3'05")

8. Cantec/ Song: Azi ieram un tanarjune (5'25")

9. Cantec de nunta/ Wedding song: Am iubit 5i-am sa iubesc (6'21")

10. Cantec de smecheri/ Slyboots' song: Mosule te-as intreba (7'50")

11. Suita de hore lautaresti/ Suite of dance tunes: hore lautaresti (5'44")

Duration (60'01")

mp3 samples are approximately 30 seconds long - click on play symbol to start + pause clip