FOLK DANCES AND MUSIC

Romania

HORA

Hora is a type ofcircle danceoriginating in theBalkansbut also

found in other countries: Bulgary horo, Macedonia oro,
Montenegro oro.

SARBA
A Srba is a Romanian dance normally played in 2/2 or 2/4 time. It
can be danced in a circle, line, or couple formations and was
historically popular not only in Romania, but also Ukraine, Hungary,
Polish highlanders (Gorals) and European Jewry. It is fast-paced and
triplets are usually emphasized in the melody.
Sarba este un dans romanesc mai rapid
ce se formeaza prin prinderea de umeri a
dansatorilor. Sarba se poate dansa in
cerc, linie ori grupuri de cate 2 ori 4
persoane.

BRAUL
The word Brul (pl. Bruri) comes from the DacioIllyrian language group meaning belt. Formations
where the dancers hold their neighbour's belts are
common throughout Bulgaria (known as na pojas)
and east Serbia. Belt hold causes the dancers to be
connected more rigidly than hand holds, thus the
dance formations are restricted to short lines and
semicircles. The belt hold rarely exists in Romania
except in the name of the dance and has been
replaced by shoulder hold, front or back cross-hand
hold, or simple low hand hold.
Romanian traditional folk dance melody ("poloxia")
from Wallachia, Oltenia area.

STRUCTURE

This set of dances consists of six movements and,

according to the composer, it should take four minutes
and three seconds to perform, but most professional
pianists take up to five minutes. The list of the
movements is as follows. The original Hungarian title
will be in the first place, the most commonly known
title in Romanian will be in the second place and the
translation into English will be in parentheses:
I.Bot tnc/Jocul cu bt(Stick Dance)
II.Brul(Sash Dance)
III.Topog/Pe loc(In One Spot)
IV.Bucsum tnc/Buciumeana(Dance from Bucsum)
V.Romn polka/Poarga Romneasc(Romanian
Polka)
VI.Aprz/Mrunel(Fast Dance)

SARBA A TRADITIONAL FOLK

DANCE

Srba(meaningSerbian [dance]in Romanian)

is a lively Romanian folk dance. Musically the
termSrbais usually applied to a lively 2/3 or
2/4 melody with triplet grouping, giving a 6/8
feel. It can be danced in a circle, line, or couple
formations and was historically popular not
only among Romanians, but also Ukrainians,
Hungarians, East European Jews, and the
Poles of the Tatra Mountains, or in dances
such as the Serbianaakand the Bulgarian
fastPravo Horo. It is fast-paced and triplets
are usually emphasized in the melody. The
Srbais still popular in Romanian traditional
music and in Klezmer music.

CALUSARII
Calusariiis danced in the Southern part of Romania, North the Danube
and in some parts of Moldova. It is exclusively a male dance, played
by groups of men who gather specifically for this occasion at
Whitsuntide (the Pentecost). The young would gather and swear and
oath not to reveal the secrets. Two characters lead the ceremony: the
master (vataf) and the mute (a negative character, sort of a buffoon, a
caricature meant only to maintain the conflict). Probably the ritual
was tied to the cult of the Sun, turned into a Christian ritual in
which the Holy Ghost comes down upon the believers (The Holiday of
the Pentecost).

Traditional
costumes

The main folk

regions in
romania are :
Crisana
Banat
Dobrogea
Moldova
Bucovina
Oltenia
Muntenia
Transilvania
Maramures

FOLK REGIONS

CRIANA

Crianais a geographical andhistorical regiondivided today between

Romania andHungary, named after theCri (Krs) Riverand its three
tributaries: theCriul Alb,Criul Negru, andCriul Repede.
It is bounded to the east by theApuseni Mountains, to the south by the
Mure River, to the north by theSome River, and to the west by the
Tisza River. The Romanian-Hungarian border cuts it in two.

FOLK DANCES AND COSTUMES IN

CRISANA

BANAT
TheBanatis a geographical andhistorical region in Central Europe that is
currently divided among three countries: the eastern part lies in western
Romania,the western part in northeasternSerbia,and a small northern part
lies within southeasternHungary(Csongrd county). The Banat is populated
by ethnicRomanians,Serbs,Hungarians,Romani,Germans,Krashovani,
Ukrainians,Slovaks,Bulgarians,Czechs,Croats,Jewsand otherethnicities.

FOLK DANCES AND COSTUMES IN

BANAT

DOBROGEA

The territory of the Romanian regionDobrogeais now organised as the counties ofConstanaand
Tulcea, with a combined area of 15,500km (6,011 sq. miles) and a population of slightly less than a
million. Its main cities areConstana,Tulcea,MedgidiaandMangalia. Dobrogea is represented by
dolphinsin thecoat of arms of Romania. The Bulgarian region ofDobrudzhais divided between the
administrative regions ofDobrichandSilistra. This part has a total area of 7,565km, with a combined
population of some 350,000 people, the main towns beingDobrichand Silistra(regional seats).

FOLK DANCES AND COSTUMES IN

DOBROGEA

MOLDOVA

Moldovaofficially theRepublic of Moldovaalso

known asMoldavia,is a country inEastern Europe,
landlockedbetweenRomaniato the west andUkraineto
the north, east and south.The capital city isChiinu.

FOLK DANCES AND COSTUMES IN

MOLDOVA

BUCOVINA

Bukovina(Romanian:Bucovina;Ukrainian: Bukovyna;
GermanandPolish:Bukowina; see alsoother languages) is ahistorical
region in Central Europe, currently divided betweenRomaniaand
Ukraine, located on the northern slopes of the centralEastern
Carpathiansand the adjoining plains.

FOLK DANCES AND COSTUMES IN

BUCOVINA

OLTENIA

Olteniais a historical province and geographical region

ofRomaniain western Wallachia. It is situated between
theDanube, theSouthern Carpathiansand the Olt
river.

FOLK DANCES AND COSTUMES IN

OLTENIA

MUNTENIA
Munteniais a historical province of Romania, usually consideredWallachia-proper
(Muntenia,ara Romneasc, and the seldom usedValahiaaresynonymsinRomanian). It is
situated between theDanube(south and east), theCarpathian Mountains(the
Transylvanian Alpsbranch) andMoldavia(both north), and theOlt Riverto the west.[1]The
latter river is the border between Muntenia andOltenia(orLesser Wallachia). Part of the
traditional border between Wallachia/Muntenia and Moldavia was formed by the rivers
Milcov andSiret.

FOLK DANCES AND COSTUMES IN

MUNTENIA

TRANSILVANIA

Transylvaniais a historical region in the

central part ofRomania.

FOLK DANCES AND COSTUMES IN

TRANSILVANIA

MARAMURES

Maramureis a geographical, historical and ethno-cultural region

in northernRomaniaand westernUkraine. It is situated on the
northeasternCarpathians, along the upperTisa River; it covers the
Maramure Depression and the surrounding Carpathian mountains.