Innovative style and construction elements in the creation of folklorist Sabin Vasile Drăgoi. “Divertisment rustic” – Carol 1: “Oh, what wonderful news!”

Abstract

Sabin Vasile Drăgoi, a composer, folklorist and leading Romanian pedagogue, is recognized for his essential contributions to the development of Romanian music, especially through the valorization of folk traditions. He was a prominent representative of the musical nationalist movement of the first half of the 20th century, marking an important stage in the synthesis between traditional elements and those of European musical modernity. The “Divertisment rustic”, entertainment composed in 1928 reflects his constant concern for the valorization of traditional Romanian music, based on folklore elements that he integrated into his classical musical language. The style of the work is full of vitality, and the folk motifs are reinterpreted in a refined and modern manner. Through the way he uses folklore elements – modal melodies, asymmetrical rhythms, tonal harmonies with modal influences – Drăgoi creates a bridge between tradition and modernity, offering an accessible yet profound work.