Thoughts on the Transylvanian folksong competitions

Abstract

The paper is a guide for the teachers of the students participating in the folk songs competitions in Transylvania. It presents in detail the problems faced both by teachers (during the training of students) and by the specialized jury (during the evaluation). These issues concern the learning of folk songs, the selection of melodies by students, the way they are performed, and the jury’s evaluation of student performance. All responsibility for the evolution of students participating in a folk song competition falls on the shoulders of preparatory teachers. If they encounter difficulties during training, if they cannot cope with more difficult situations, it is good to contact a specialist in the field. There are always people willing to help. The main goal of these competitions is to have more people sing folk songs and to live with the possibility of singing folk songs in the future, either individually or in groups. Learn from authentic recordings and learn the authentic way of performing. To know as many records as possible, possibly people who have been born in communities where they still live the tradition. This will allow us to develop respect for our own traditions.