Roma Melodies Performed by Roma Violinist Stefan Moise

Identifier
irn600102
Language of Description
English
Alt. Identifiers
  • RG-91.2064
Level of Description
Item
Source
EHRI Partner

Creator(s)

Biographical History

Stefan Moise (born January 30, 1923 in Iasi, Romania) was born to Romani ("Gypsy") parents in the capital of Moldavia in eastern Romania. The family lived in a mixed neighborhood of Roma and Romanians. Stefan's father made a living playing guitar in local restaurants. As a child, Stefan learned to play the violin and he often performed with his father. 1933-39: When Stefan was a teenager and old enough to branch out on his own, he left his father and teamed up with another young man to perform in restaurants. They performed all over Moldavia. The outbreak of war in 1939 was bad for business and many restaurants closed down, so Stefan had to resort to farm work to support himself. 1940-44: In 1942 Iasi's Roma were rounded up by the Romanian police and sent eastward by cattle car. When they disembarked in Transnistria, they were marched to open fields and left to starve with inadequate rations. Urged by his wife, Stefan managed to run away. Of course, he took his violin. He hitched a ride on a freight train to Odessa and found work playing in a hotel, but all the time he couldn't stop feeling guilty for leaving his wife and sister. In 1944 he was arrested and inducted into the Romanian army. After the war, Stefan was reunited with his wife in Iasi. He worked as a musician until his retirement in 1983.

Scope and Content

Roma songs by Stefan Moise, violin. Including, 6:06-7:12: the melody is "Sanie Cu Zurgalai” (music by Richard Stein) 8:17-9:45: an excerpt from "Romanian Rhapsody No. 1" (1903), a showpiece by Georges Enesco.

Note(s)

Genre

This description is derived directly from structured data provided to EHRI by a partner institution. This collection holding institution considers this description as an accurate reflection of the archival holdings to which it refers at the moment of data transfer.