doina

[Michel Borzykowski <borzykowski...>]

My very modest contribution to this item (from http://borzykowski.users.ch )

The DOINA is originally a Romanian shepherd's lament with Greek influence 
(SKAROS or KLEFTIKA) and was already borrowed by the Gypsy 'lautari'. The Doina 
is a rather slow, improvised and free-metered (rather than unmetered) tune, 
employing sequences of short melodic figures often with a regular rhythmic 
pulse (Kurt Bjorling). The soloist (often fiddle or clarinet) plays on a soft 
harmonic (modal) basement (tsimbl or accordion). When needed, the chord changes 
were indicated at the moment to the other musicians. These pieces were 
particularly appropriate to express the entire universe of emotions, with a 
major influence of the liturgical cantillation and melisma of the khazan 
(cantor). In a suite, the doina could be used as 'forshpil' (prelude), followed 
by a short rhythmical 'tsushpil' announcing a tempo change (for example 
terkish) to a faster piece or medley called 'nokhshpil' (hora, khosidl, sirba, 
terkish or bulgar). The term 'doina' could derive from the Sanskrit (Indian) 
'd'haina', recalling the Gypsy influence on this music(Yale Strom).

The DOINA replaced the TAKSIM (of Turkish or Arab origin)and was mostly played 
as introduction to one or many fast dances (Hora, Freylekhs, etc.). In these 
kind of pieces one can feel a major influence of the liturgical cantillation of 
the khazan (cantor). 

Michel Borzykowski
12 chemin Franconis
CH-1290 Versoix
Switzerland 
tel +4122 7554123
fax +4122 7761494
borzykowski (at) infomaniak(dot)ch 
Homepage AMJ: http://www.club-association.ch/amj
Geneva klezmer page: http://borzykowski.users.ch