The Moldovan folklore group La Taifas will be performing in the Union Breezeway on Wednesday morning and also at 8 p.m. Wednesday night in the Union Ballroom.
Many Americans could not place the Republic of Moldova on a map, much less describe their traditional music, but students at the University of Wyoming will have a chance to remedy that tonight at a showcase of the talents of La Taifas Quartet, which specializes in traditional Moldovan folk music.
The Republic of Moldova is a small, rural country located in eastern Europe and bordered by Romania and Ukraine. Once under the rule of the Russian empire and later the Soviet Union, the country gained independence in 1991 with the fall of the Soviet Union.
Moldovan folk music is similar to other forms of traditional folk music from southeastern Europe. Surrounded on three sides by Ukraine, the country takes many musical cues from its neighbor. Usually played in weddings, festivals and other events, Moldovan folk tunes, which are fast and lively, are made for dancing.
The quartet features a violin, accordion, pan-flute and cimbalom. The cimbalom is a type of hammered dulcimer and is an instrument commonly associated with eastern European music. Think piano with no keyboard and the strings exposed. The accordion is a relatively new addition to Moldovan folk music, and is used for its versatility to play both melodies and accompaniments.
Since World War II, traditional Moldovan music has expanded to use full orchestras. La Taifas, however, prefers to stay small, with just a few instruments to maintain an ensemble style feel.
La Taifas Quartet has been traveling throughout the state for the past three weeks. Laramie is their final stop before they head back home. “They really connected to the small communities around Wyoming,” Music Professor Rodney Garnett said. “It’s great,” said violinist Marin Bunea. “We imagined the Wild West, like in the movies, but now we’ve seen the real place. We met very nice people everywhere we went.”
Audiences so far have been very interested by the uncommon form of music. “People were very responsive,” said Bunea.
“It’s very accessible and easy to connect with,” Garnett said. “I just felt a real connection with these people,” said Garnett.
Garnett spent a year in Moldova.
“I enjoyed it very much and thought they would have a lot in common with people in Wyoming, and that’s proved to be true.” Garnett noted that both Moldova and Wyoming are largely rural areas, and that both “are very close to village life.”
“It’s the same with Wyoming, in terms of similarities. People sometimes don’t know where Wyoming is,” he said.
La Taifas quartet will be playing today at 11 a.m. in the Union Breezeway, and at 8 p.m. in the Union ballroom. “Everyone should feel free to ask questions, and be ready to dance,” Garnett said.
For more photos visit the BI gallery “La Taifas Quartet.”
