What is choral interpretation?

Answer 1

The establishment of interpretation art in Moldova and Basarabia was due to canonical links with Eastern and Russian church and the permanent connections with professional choral music of Western style, presented by different bands coming on tour. The Byzantine monodical tradition, in turn, has inspired the great masters of choral art, like Gavriil Musicescu and Mihail Berezovschi.

Byzantine ecclesiastical music traditions and folk monodical ones were completed in the second half of the 18th century by a harmonic choir of church vocal music, with linear notes, organized under the old Moldovan Monastery "Neamt". The introduction of harmonic choral singing in religious service is linked with the name of Saint Paisie Velicikovski.

In Basarabia, the art of choral interpretation has developed with predilection towards churches and religious educational institutions in the 19th century. The first choral group was founded at the Theological Seminary in Chisinau, the oldest educational institution in Basarabia, established in 1813 at the initiative of Bishop Gavriil Bănulescu-Bodoni. Thus, this group became the faithful promoter of religious choral singing and musical art in general.

Starting with the second half of the 19th century, the choral movement roots not only in worship and church education, but also in secular education. In 1874, the decision to introduce lessons of choral singing in general education schools had a beneficial impact on the participants of educational process, as well as on the population overall, emerging the love for choral singing. From late 19th century and early 20th century, the art of interpretation and choral music have gained a greater share in the musical life in Basarabia, due to the efforts of renowned musicians and musical groups - the promoters of choral singing. Among the musicians with substantial contribution to the development of choral art are distinguished: G.Musicescu, V.Rebicov, V.Gutor, Serbulov, M.Bârcă, Al.Cristea, V.Popovici, V.Bulâcuiov, A.Iacovlev, Stegareov, etc.