MARIA TOMA, A FOLK RHAPSODIST FROM THE VILLAGE OF BĂLENI SÂRBI – DÂMBOVIŢA COUNTY (CASE STUDY)

Authors

• Maria TUFEANU In the daily process of creating an ethnic minority’s identity, folk, texts play an important role. Before understanding how this identity is, built and how tradition is revived to support the construction of identity,, we shall fail to understand how these minorities communicate, and hence, we shall not be able to see beyond verbal performance. And from, desemanticization to disappearance there is but one step, a reality that, must be taken into account by researchers of these phenomena, until it is,, obviously, too late., Vocal folk songs represent an impressive part of the ensemble of, folk type creations. In recent decades, vocal soloists mainly promote songs, composed by them to the detriment of the traditional repertoire of their, area of origin. Most times they renounce the accompaniment of folk, instruments, opting for commercial productions, and thus set themselves, farther away from knowing and appreciating the songs belonging to, traditional cultural heritage. This is why, when assessing the repertoire of, the fold rhapsodist Maria Thomas, I would like to take into consideration, the following criteria which I think it meets: “the criterion of authenticity,, the criterion of quality, the criterion of exportability”.1, Maria Toma’s repertoire is impressive and very selective. Because, she was a teacher, even for a short time, she understood that literate, people enjoy certain genres. Her distinct voice allowed her to interpret, romances very carefully and musically correct. She admits listening to, such radio programs and having books on romances in her house., Maria Toma, known also as Ţaţa Maria lu’ Ioncică or Lelea Maria,, was born on July 18, 1928 in the village of Băleni Sârbi, Dâmboviţa, County. She is a Bulgarian ethnic. She has a son and two daughters, and is, 1 AUBERT, Lauret, Muzica celuilalt (The Music of the Other), versiunea română: Emanuela, Geamănu, Bucureşti, p. 17. Author