Romanian composers from the second half of the 20th century - the beginning of the 21st century, who composed works with religious themes (solo repertoire for soprano voice, vocal-symphonic repertoire and choral repertoire)

Abstract

The idea of Christian spirituality in Romanian music can be placed on the same level as the idea of prayer. In her book, Mariana Popescu claims about the choral poem Our Father composed by Irina Odăgescu-Ţuţuianu that it ‘appeared as a great need for prayer.’ This personal need for prayer transpires from the creations of the Romanian composers in the second half of the 20th century – the beginning of the 21st century as a form of sacrifice, of praise or of thanks to the saints, to the Savior Jesus Christ and His Mother, and these works dedicated to Jesus Christ and to Virgin Mary being from the most famous and numerous in this category of sacred music. From the category of these religious-based works, there are also the leaders for soprano voice accompanied by piano or chamber ensemble that was composed by: Felicia Donceanu, Carmen Petra-Basacopol, Liana Alexandra, Șerban Nichifor, Nicolae Coman, Roxana Pepelea or Theodor Grigoriu. As for the religious vocal-symphonic works I mention the following composers: Ana Szilágyi, Livia Teodorescu-Ciocănea, Felicia Donceanu, Myriam Marbe, Marian Mitea, Viorel Munteanu, and others. As for the choral creation, in the same area of religious inspiration, there are also the carols composed and harmonized by Iosif Fiț, Constantin Catrina, and Viorel Munteanu.