MUGURELUL

Edition 2022
Next year the Romanian ensemble MUGURELUL, which was founded at the Children’s Club in the town of Sighetu Marmației by prof. George Petrovai and Gheorghe Pop, will be celebrating its 50th anniversary. Half a century! On the one hand it is merely one third of the history of Romania as a constitutional state (1866). On the other hand...
Well, on the other hand it is enough to visit the historical region of Maramureș, take delight in the wealth of exquisitely beautiful little Orthodox churches scattered in the shaded foothills of the Carpathians, walk through the traditional, richly decorated gates characteristic of not only sacral buildings, but also ordinary residential housing, or to feast your eyes on the varicoloured folk costumes in order to understand that there is more to Maramureș than 150 years of Romania. The founders of MUGURELUL, as well as their continuators find this heritage priceless.

The audience of this year’s edition of the FESTIVAL OF THE CHILDREN OF MOUNTAINS will not have to visit the Romanian region of Bukovina in order to experience its centuries-old tradition.

Under the direction of prof. dr Iuga Ioan, the MUGURELUL children will be trying to convince us of that by performing a medley of folk songs and dances native of this region. In line with the Festival rules we will also have an opportunity to see children's games typical of Maramureș. The accompaniment will be provided by four violins, a zongora (a type of guitar) and a drum.

It is also noteworthy that a part of the region in question, by the mellifluous name of Maramureș, lies in Ukraine. Are we going to hear and recognize among the sounds of the Romanian ensemble the influence of the Ukrainian folklore? We will see!