Drăgoi, Sabin V(asile)

Drăgoi, Sabin V(asile), eminent Romanian composer, folklorist, and pedagogue; b. Selişte, June 18, 1894; d. Bucharest, Dec. 31, 1968. He studied harmony with Zirra in Iaşi (1918–19), theory with Bena and counterpoint with Klee in Cluj (1919–20), and composition with Novak, conducting with Ostrcil, and music history with Krupka in Prague (1920–22). After teaching music in Deva (1922–24), he was director of the Timişoara Cons. (1925–43) and then a teacher at the Cluj Cons. (1943–45). He served as prof. of folklore at the Cons. (1950–52) and as director of the Folklore Inst. (1950–64) in Bucharest. He received the Enesco prize 3 times (1922, 1923, 1928) and the Romanian Academy prize (1933). His extensive folklore research in the Banat and in Transylvania is often reflected in his compositions.

Works

DRAMATIC Napasta (Disaster), opera (1927; Bucharest, May 30, 1928; rev. 1958; Bucharest, Dec. 23, 1961); Constantin Brincoveanu, scenic oratorio (1929; Bucharest, Oct. 25, 1935); Kir lanulea, comic-fantastic opera (1930–38; Cluj-Napoca, Dec. 22, 1939); Horia, historical opera (1945; rev. 1959); Pacala, comic opera (1954–56; Brasov, May 6, 1962); film music. ORCH.: 3 Tablouri simfonice (1921); Memento mori—La groapa lui Scarlatescu (1923); Divertisment rustic (1928); Divertisment sacru for Chamber Orch. (1933); Piano Concerto (1940–41; Bucharest, Feb. 14, 1943); Rapsodia din Belint (1942; Bucharest, Dec. 12, 1943); 2 Dansuri pe tempe populare mureşene (1942); Petrecere populara, suite (1950); La Mislea—La moartea unei tovaraşe cazute in ilegalitate, symphonic poem (1951); Mitrea Cocor, suite (1953); Suita fagaraşana (1954); Suita de 7 dansuri populare (1960); Suita tatara (1961); Suita lipoveana (1962). CHAMBER : 2 string quartets (1920,1922); Violin Sonata (1949); Dixtour for Winds, Strings, and Piano (1955). Piano : Suita de dansuri populare (1923); 8 Miniaturi (1923); Mica suita: In memoriam Bela Bartok (1955); 30 Collude (1958); 10 Miniaturi (1960); 12 Miniaturi (1966). VOCAL: Povestea neamului for Chorus and Orch. (1936; Bucharest, Nov. 10, 1938); Balada celor patru mineri for Soli, Chorus, and Orch. (1950); Mai multa lumina, cantata for Chorus and Orch. (1951); Povestea bradului, oratorio for Soli, Chorus, and Orch. (1952); Cununa—Serbarea secerişului, cantata for Soli, Chorus, and Orch. (1959).

Bibliography

N. Rsdulescu, s.v. d, (bucharest, 1971).

—Nicolas Slonimsky/Laura Kuhn/Dennis McIntire