Ciprian Porumbescu

Porumbescu, Ciprian 

Born Oct. 2, 1853, in Şipotele Sucevei, in Suceava; died May 25, 1883, in Stupca, now Ciprian-Porumbescu. Rumanian composer and conductor.

Porumbescu received his musical training in Rumania and, from 1879 to 1881, at the Vienna Conservatory, where he studied under A. Bruckner. He then became a music teacher in the city of Braşov. A director of students’ and workers’ choral clubs, he was persecuted by the Austrian authorities for his progressive public activity.

Porumbescu’s compositions are connected with Rumania’s musical folklore and are notable for their melodiousness and national character. Best known are the satirical comedy Candidate Linte (1877), the lyrical fairy-tale operetta New Moon (1882), and “Ballad” for violin and piano (1880). He also wrote vocal compositions, songs on social themes, and the popular revolutionary song “The First of May.” The Bucharest Conservatory was named in his honor.

REFERENCES

Kristian, V. “Chiprian Porumbesku.” Sovetskaia muzyka, 1954, no. 1.
Cosma, V. Ciprian Porumbescu. Bucharest, 1957.
Vancea, Z. Creatia muzicalăromânească, sections XIX-XX, vol. 1. Bucharest, 1968.

B. IA. KOTLIAROV