History – Culture – Music in the Romanian Eighteenth Century

Abstract

Recently, I made a few forays in the history of the society, culture and music of the people in the Carpathian-Danubian space, without the intention and claim of unlocking doors thrown widely open before me by established researchers such as Lucian Boia, Theodor T. Burada, Gheorghe Ciobanu, Octavian Lazăr Cosma, Neagu Djuvara, Costin Moisil and many others. I did it especially in order to try to tear myself away from the old spread-eagle patterns, from prejudice. Thus, I ascertained that, in the flow of time, of events, of facts, the European eighteenth century constitutes a page about which I do not know enough yet; I felt at the same time that it represents a stage that can bring (to me) additional understanding of the following two hundred years (the 19th and 20th centuries). Therefore, I let myself be overcome by curiosity, beginning by undertaking a reconnaissance survey “over” the 18th century of European history. I continued by approaching the European socio-political and cultural configuration and dynamics of the same period. Finally, I tried to understand –keeping, at the same time, a comprehensive perspective – the Romanian socio-cultural and musical phenomenon of the 18th century, with the intention of integrating it with the logic of historical progress and with that of territorial connections.