Viaţa muzicală a elitelor din Iaşi şi Bucureşti în prima jumătate a secolului al XIX lea
Social Elite and Musical Life in Iaşi and Bucharest in the First Half of the Nineteenth Century

Summary/Abstract: In the first half of the nineteenth century, there was a significant change in the musical life of the Romanian society. Musical tastes of the elite from Romanian Principalities has changed, passing from the folk and Oriental music, performed by folk musicians and orchestras of the Turkish princely court, to classical music, played by foreign artists and local dilettantes. This type of music begins to be cultivated in the family and schools and it had a growing attraction upon elite from Moldavia and Wallachia. The first talented performers appear among the elite but also the most devoted promoters and supporters of musical events in the Romanian Principalities. From a social perspective, musical instruction becomes an educational criteria being more and more appreciated by the high class. It becomes a better chance for getting success in the society and in matrimonial strategies. In this respect, private and public concert halls were favourite environments for society life. They maintained forms of sociability and specific representation of elite. Just like participation at the balls and theatres, concert attendance was part of society obligation and, regardless of the circumstances that would have been a high boyar family they had to obey to social demands. The press is the main source of information and on its basis we analysed the most important aspects of musical life in the two capitals of the Romanian Principalities, Iasi and Bucharest. Press has contributed to the spreading out of musical culture in the Romanian society through constant publication of some news about the most important musical events and activities.

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