The Instrumental Folk Music in Sandominic Ciuc, County of Harghita

Abstract

Upper Ciuc is an ethnic area rich in tradition to the north of Miercurea Ciuc, which consists of six large villages and a town. Throughout the centuries many folklorists have sought out and visited this countryside to experience and enjoy instrumental folk music. The folk band from Felcsík has uniquely preserved a lineup composed of the old traditional instruments through the turn of the 20th century, consisting of violin, viola, and ’ garden’. The members of the orchestra are all expert virtuoso musicians. Their playing on the instruments is characterized by the repetition of tunes from which arise many diverse variations and true to the folk tradition, they are masters of the art of ringing the changes. The analysis of the instrumental techniques and the musical examples demonstrate very well these specialties.