Fratii Pana
Two brothers, Tudor and Iocovache Pana, from Bucuresti. This EP disc came out in 1975 or 76 just after I had met Tudor in Rangoon. It is in the Bucharest urban Rom Style, Musica Lautareasca, but tinged with a bit of the Romanian Socialist Idealist neo folk style.
To me this set of recordings brings back the feel and mood of the last days of Socialism in Romania of the late 70's. Many musicians like the Pana's wanted to make it as solo musicians within the restrictions of the regime while at the same time pushing to play more of their own urban Rom style. Much of this set is what the Rom were dancing to in the 70's. One item, in particular, with its title not in Romanian but in Rom, Abre Nane, Abre Dade (Oh Sister, Oh Mother!), is an amazing piece. It is not in the usual Romanian/Turkish melodic system at all and reflects some much older Rom melodic type perhaps.
Accordion: Iocovache Pana, Violin: Tudor Pana from Electrecord EPP 1261
Also please note that I am putting up my own field recordings from Romania made in 1977. Romania-1977
Robert Garfias
Department of Anthropology
UCI