The ethnomusicologist Gheorghe Ciobanu.

His research regarding Byzantine,

Gregorian and old Romanian music

By Vlăduț Mihai

Introduction

The ethnomusicologist Gheorghe Ciobanu published contributions to the

history of music. He was interested by Byzantinology, as well as old
Romanian music, in connection with his ethnomusicology studies.

Contributions to the history of

Byzantine, Gregorian, and old Romanian
music

One of the most important contributions made by Gheorghe Ciobanu to the

history of Byzantine music is the book Studii de etnomuzicologie și
bizantinologie (Studies of Ethnomusicology and Byzantinology). This book
had three volumes, which were published at Editura Muzicală (Musical
Publishing House) from Bucharest, in 1974, 1979 and 1992.

Gheorghe Ciobanu also published critical editions that are important for
the history of Byzantine and old Romanian music. These critical editions were
published either alone or in collaboration with other authors, as part of a book
series entitled „Izvoare ale muzicii românești” („Sources of Romanian music”).
Some books from this series that are worth mentioning are Muzică
instrumentală, vocală și psaltică din secolele XVI-XIX (Instrumental, vocal and
psaltic musci from the XVI-XIX centuries), published in 1978, „Școala
muzicală de la Putna” (manuscrisul nr. 56/544/576 I) („The musical school
from Putna Monastery” (manuscript no. 56/544/576 I)) published in
1980, „Școala muzicală de la Putna” (manuscris nr. I-26/Iași) („The musical
school from Putna Monastery” (manuscript no. I-26/Iași)), published in
1981, Antologhionul lui Eustatie Protopsaltul Putnei (The Anthology of
Eustatie, the lead singer of Putna monastery), published in 1983, „Școala
muzicală de la Putna” (Ms. Nr. 56/544/576 I). „Stihirar” („Musical School from
Putna” (Manuscript No. 56/544/576 I). „Stihirar”), published in 1984,
and Cîntece de lume (secolele XVIII-XIX) (Wordly songs (XVIII-XIX
centuries)), published in 1985(1).

In a scientific report published by Gheorghe Ciobanu in 1987(2.), regarding

an old musical notation from the controversial book Rohonczi Codex(3.), the
author mentioned his previous research regarding Byzantine music, relative to
musical manuscripts written by and for Romanians. According to Ciobanu, the
oldest Romanian Byzantine musical manuscripts can be dated to the
15th century A. D. Ciobanu mentions

In the same scientific report(2), Gheorghe Ciobanu also mentions research

done by other researchers. Ciobanu mentions the works of Gr. Pânțaru, who
transcribed and published the manuscripts Nr. 160/IV-34 - Evangheliar (No.
160/IV-34 - Gospel), in 1982, and Nr. 160/IV-39 (No. 160/IV-39). The last
manuscript was written probably in the 13th century. Both manuscripts are kept
at the „Mihai Eminescu” Central University Library in Iași, Romania. Gheorghe
Ciobanu`s point of view is that Gr. Pânțaru has proven that Romanian
libraries also contain manuscripts which use Byzantine notation, written since
the beginning of the 12th century, but transported to Romania at unknown
moments.

Also, regarding the manuscripts that use Gregorian musical notation,

Gheorghe Ciobanu mentions the research done by Octavian Lazăr Cozma, in
the volume Hronicul muzicii românești (Chronicle of Romanian music), vol.
I, Epoca străveche, veche și medievală (The Ancient, Old and Medieval era).
Ciobanu thinks that the oldest manuscripts of this kind can be dated to the
XIII-XIV centuries, but there is no certainty that the Gregorian manuscripts
were actually written in areas inhabited by Romanians(2).

Furthermore, according to Gheorghe Ciobanu, historical research done in

the 2nd half of the 20th century (during the Romanian communist regime), both
in archeology and in the field of old Greek and Latin writings, has revealed
numerous data, mentions and even accounts relative to the musical culture
from the territory of old Dacia(2).

For example, Ciobanu mentions that it became known that a school

existed at Cenad-Morisena in the 11th century(4.), where music was studied with
Greek monks(2).
 Conclusion

The ethnomusicologist Gheorghe Ciobanu published numerous important

contributions to the history of Byzantine, Gregorian and old Romanian music,
based on old manuscripts written by Romanians, related to the Romanian
territory or located in Romanian libraries.

Notes and references

1. For more information and a Romanian language bibliography regarding

Gheorghe Ciobanu,
see https://ro.wikipedia.org/wiki/Gheorghe_Ciobanu_(etnomuzicolog),
consulted on 25th December 2022.

2. Gheorghe Ciobanu, Referate de specialitate privind rezultatele cercetării

prof. Viorica Enăchiuc, în descifrarea Codexului Rohonczi și importanța
publicării lor pentru cunoașterea istoriei și a literaturii românilor din secolele
XI-XII (I) (Scientific reports regarding the results of the research of professor
Viorica Enăchiuc, in desciphering the Rohonczi Codex, and the importance of
their publication for the knoledge of Romanian history and literature in the XI-
XII centuries (I)), în Viorica Enăchiuc, Rohonczi Codex. Descifrare, transcriere
și traducere. Déchiffrement, transcription et traduction (Deciphering,
transcription and translation), București, ALCOR EDIMPEX SRL, 2002, pp.
543-551.

3. For more information about the Rohonczi Codex (which is almost

certainly a historical fake), see https://app.site123.com/manager/wizard.php?
wu=63a5e1f67b311-63a5e1f67b312-63a5e1f67b313#,consulted on
25th december 2022.

4. Vezi și: ***, Istoria României, vol. II, Editura Academiei R. P. Română,
1962, p. 181.
 Bibliography

I. Primary sources:

I. 1. Gheorghe Ciobanu, Referate de specialitate privind rezultatele

cercetării prof. Viorica Enăchiuc, în descifrarea Codexului Rohonczi și
importanța publicării lor pentru cunoașterea istoriei și a literaturii românilor din
secolele XI-XII (I) (Scientific reports regarding the results of the research of
professor Viorica Enăchiuc, in desciphering the Rohonczi Codex, and the
importance of their publication for the knoledge of Romanian history and
literature in the XI-XII centuries (I)), în Viorica Enăchiuc, Rohonczi Codex.
Descifrare, transcriere și traducere. Déchiffrement, transcription et
traduction (Deciphering, transcription and translation), București, ALCOR
EDIMPEX SRL, 2002, pp. 543-551.

Further reading (these books were not

used as sources for the article)

1. Gheorghe Ciobanu, Studii de etnomuzicologie și bizantinologie (Studies

of Ethnomusicology and Byzantinology), vol. 1, București, Editura Muzicală
(Musical Publishing House), 1974, 439 p.

2. Gheorghe Ciobanu, Studii de etnomuzicologie și bizantinologie (Studies

of Ethnomusicology and Byzantinology), vol. 2, București, Editura Muzicală
(Musical Publishing House), 1979, 378 p.

3. Gheorghe Ciobanu, Studii de etnomuzicologie și bizantinologie (Studies

of Ethnomusicology and Byzantinology), vol. 1, București, Editura Muzicală
(Musical Publishing House), 1992, 224 p.