Musicians: Dona Dumitru Siminica - voice
with:
Instrumental ensembles conducted by Niculae Baluta, Ion Margean, Gheorghe Trandafir,
Dona Siminica
Label - Electrecord, Romania
Initially Dona Dumitru Siminica started as a violinist but it was his richly warm
singing voice that gained him fame. Born in 1926 (he died sometime in the 1980s) he came from a musical family and sang with Lautaris’ (Gypsy musicians) in many Bucharest bars and cafes.
Extract from CD sleeve notes:
"He was born in Tirgoviste in 1926 and died in the 1980s. ...He learned to play the violin as a child with his father, a brick layer and fiddler player himself.
He formed a folk music hand and began to sing in restaurants in Bucharest in Piata Amzei or
Piata Sf. Gheorghe.
Dona Dumitru Siminica is one of the main representatives of traditional Romanian fiddler music of the urban area at the middle of the 20" century. He was a good violin player with a rich repertoire that approached almost any musical genre. His repertoire consisted of high virtuosity dance songs but, above
all, he was an excellent vocalist of the fiddler songs or of the slums. He recorded many songs with an instrumental accompaniment by small folk music
bands, songs that would highlight his vocal qualities, a warm voice, a high voice
register, with lots of melodic ornaments.
Love, longing for the loved one, unshared love are favourite themes usually interpreted in Romanian
language, seldom in gypsy language.
The repertoire and interpretation style bear reminiscences of old music. sung in salons or at court during the
18th and the 19th centuries, when the Oriental influence was at its peak in Walachia. Proof for this stand the
'worldly' songs collections published by Anton Pann during 1830-1840.
He who heard once 'La Salul el Negru' (At the black Shawl's) will always identify it with
Dona Dumitru Siminica, its interpreter.
'Mosule to-as intreba' (Old man. I would ask you) Siminica sings as if in wonder of how life is and how love feels. Never wavering, never swerving, just yielding to the fire consuming him.
'La Salul eel negru' is the song that burns, as the interpreter burns while burning deep into the heart of the listener, such is the way and message of the song.
'Inel, inel de aur' ...(Ring. of, golden ring), 'Lelita Floare' are no less.
Dona Dumitru Siminica is the descendant of the great instrumentalists of folk
music, he is the one who took further the fame and art, so full of the gift and
wisdom of his forefathers."
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Tracks
1. Inel, inel de aur (5'57")
2. Mosule, te-as intreba ((7'22")
3. Am iubit si-am sa iubesc (2'27")
4. Afara e intuneric (6'14")
5. Am o mama bolnavioara (2'55")
6. Cand toca la Radu Voda (2'29")
7. Hai Buzau (3'26")
8. Se marita Leana noastra (3'41")
9. Munte, munte, brad frumos (3'23")
10. Lina, Catalina (3'33")
11. Puica ce dragoste avem (2'01")
12. S-a dus puiul de la mine (2'20")
13. Foaie verde trei smicele (4'16")
14. Lelea cu coadele lungi (2'39")
15. Draboro (Buruiana de leac) (3'13")
16. Sare lumea han ai pen (Toata lumea bea si mananca) (3'05")
17. A bre nane a bre tate (3'53")
Duration (64'01"))
Our mp3 samples are approximately 30 seconds long
and of low(ish) quality for a fast download
(file size app 300KB).