This 11-piece Romanian brass band plays a type of ecstatic, hyper, adrenaline-fueled gypsy music sometimes affectionately referred to as speed brass. After hearing just a couple of songs, it will not be hard to see why. This group is amazingly fast and tight, and their performances have a contagious energy that can be clearly felt whatever one's familiarity with the genre. The rhythm section consists of a couple of tubas and a lone bass drum, with the rest of the lineup composed of trumpets, clarinets, alto saxophones, and other horns. (It often sounds like there's a violin sawing away, but that isn't the case.) Most of the tunes are traditional pieces from Romania and neighboring lands -- the type of music that is played at rural weddings and ceremonies, and that has been for generations. However, this is clearly a living tradition: the performances are maniacally alive, and there isn't whiff of any sort of museum-grade preservationist ethic. Regardless of genre, music really doesn't get much faster or more delirious than what Fanfare Ciocarlia has to offer here. ~ William York, All Music Guide
Daniel Smith (Translation), Clemens Matznick (Mastering), Fanfare Ciocãrlia (Main Performer), Anne Sasson (Translation), Anne Sasson (Text Translation), Ioan Ivancea (Clarinet), Ioan Ivancea (Vocals), Ioan Ivancea (Clarinet (Soprano)), Laurentiu Mihai Ivancea (Horn (Baritone)), Laurentiu Mihai Ivancea (Sax (Baritone)), Oprica Ivancea (Clarinet), Oprica Ivancea (Sax (Alto)), Oprica Ivancea (Clarinet (Soprano)), Helmut Neumann (Producer), Hartwig Nickola (Mixing), Constantin Calin "Sulo" (Horn (Tenor)), Constantin Calin "Sulo" (Vocals)
