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Toni Iordache
accompanied by the  Orchestras of Gheorghe Zamfir, Florian Economu and Tudor Pana

'A Virtuoso of the Cimbalom 2'

(EDC392)

Star of many compilations of Romanian Folk Music CDs in the 'west' here is another great collection showing the brilliance of Toni Iordache (pronounced 'yor-DUH-kay'). Accompaniment is by small folk orchestras.

'This CD includes dances, songs, melancholy Romanian folk-songs (doinas) and ballads from different parts of the country.

The cimbalom player Toni Iordache was one of the most gifted virtuosi of this instrument. He had a rich and varied repertoire, which he interpreted with particular sensitivity and musicality, with an excellent folk style, richly ornamented in love songs and demonstrating brilliant technique in dance numbers.

The cimbalom (dulcimer), an ancient instrument of Oriental origin, consists of a resonance box over which a certain number of metal strings are stretched. To play the instrument, these strings are struck by two little wooden sticks or hammers wrapped in cotton. In musical folklore, the instrument is used almost exclusively to support the accompaniment, and as such is of great use to folklore bands (the so-called tarafs); especially through the characteristic quality of its sound, its capacity to realize innumerable rhythmic formulas for sustaining folk-dances and to create a reliable harmonic background for lyric songs.

It in the case of the little cimbalom (a somewhat rudimentary instrument which is suspended from the player's neck, thus enabling him to play even while walking - as for instance during wedding processions) the playing technique has not improved much, by contrast the big cimbalom, having an ambit increased by a whole octave and a larger resonance box, standing on four legs and being provided with a damping pedal like that of the pianoforte, offers the interpreter the possibility of showing his full musicality and virtuosity.

The tradition of fiddler's music has handed down a complex playing technique to the virtuosi of today. Despite the fact that it cannot emit more than two sounds at one time, the cimbalom is a fundamental instrument in Romanian music, able to sustain harmony and rhythm as well as solo parts. Long sounds may be rendered on the cimbalom by means of a rapid tremolo; sounds within arpeggios may be maintained by pressing the damping pedal. The instrument can furthermore offer distinct varieties of sound quality, brought forth through different means of producing sound. Of course, everything depends on how, where and with what the vibration of the strings is brought about: it is a comprehensive technique, to some extent related to that used for other stringed instruments (e.g. violin, harp, etc.)'
Mircea Chiriac

USD 14.99

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Toni Iordache
accompanied by the  Orchestras of Gheorghe Zamfir, Florian Economu and Tudor Pana

'A Virtuoso of the Cimbalom 2'

(EDC392)

Tracks


1. Hora de Baldana (2'55")
2. Sarba Olteneasca (2'43")
3. Variatiuni pe tema "Foaie verde si-o craita" (3'39")
4. Doina Oltului (3'05")
5. Hora de la Bolintin (2'28")
6. Geaba ma mai duc acasa si Hora lui Leonard (4'32")
7. Doina de jale (2'54")
8. Cantec de ascultare si Sarba de la Sabareni (3'30")
9. Cantec de dragoste (2'45")
10. Hora din Ialomita (2'38")
11. Doina "Trandafir imbobocit" (3'03")
12. Breaza fetelor (1'49")
13. Balada lui Corbea (4'16")
14. Ma dusei in lumea larga (2'25")
15. Doina Transylvana ((2'30")
16. Hora lautareasca (3'25")
17. Doina "Cind eram copil mic" (3'54")
18. Hora do la Medgidia (2'57")
19. Balada haiduceaca (5'03")

Duration (61'50")

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