Radio Romania Musical in partnership with Humanitas Bookshop have successfully initiated The Bookshop and Music project. The intention is to organize a series of musical events meant to emphasize the values our society has been so adamantly neglecting.

Interested in the project, I attended a concert at the Kretzulescu Humanitas Bookshop, on Tuesday November 17th, 2009. The action was included in the European Book Days events, which take place between the 14th and the 21st of November. The performance was just as ambrosial as the on the house refreshments which were offered to those 'thirsty' for good music. The 'Anton Pann' old-music group hit the spotlight after a presentation from Cristina Comandasu - deputy editor in chief at Radio Romania Musical. The show allowed us to enter a less known, but equally defining and intimate universe.

Though it is generally accepted that 'Dimitrie Cantemir' was a genuine 'uomo universale', it is a little known fact that he was highly interested in musical composition. Along with his work, the performance also included pieces from Anton Pann, the Carmina Burana collection from Codex Caioni, the latter composed by Transylvanian scholar Ioan Caianu. This extraordinary repertoire, played by The Anton Pann group, gave life to a new, yet familiar space, one of confluence between the sacred and the profane. A space both Christian and heathen, where folklore and classical music intertwine.

The music, rich in Turkish harmonies, also combined religious inflexions mainly from the Orthodox school of composition and these extraordinary features of the genre were faithfully encompassed by the musicians who took the stage. The band, led by Constantin Raileanu, was founded roughly five years ago. Their performance exceeded expectations, as the audience, present there by choice or chance, was enchanted by the unexpected charm of the songs. Not surprisingly, almost everyone rushed to buy the band's CDs after the show was over. And for those who didn't get a chance to buy one, the band also promised they will be releasing a new record including all the pieces from Dimitrie Cantemir's collection.

Events under the name 'Bookshop and Music' are not to be missed, as they provide the audiences with the opportunity to interact with classical music in an unconventional space, while learning about a world where spiritual values are of the greatest significance.

Interview by: Petra Gherasim
Translated by Ioana Nita and Teodora Tanase
MA Students, MTTLC, Bucharest University