We look forward to seeing you at our next events:

Details at: www.icr-london.co.uk

The Amsterdams in London Urban indie sounds from one of the most exciting young Romanian bands hits the Dublin Castle in Camden Town.
When: 3 June 2008, 7.45 pm;
Where: The Dublin Castle, 94 Parkway, London, NW1 7AN.

Romanian Piano Trio @ ICR London Professional and innovative trio are the June guests of the Enescu Society concert series. Violinist Alexandru Tomescu will be playing his Stradivarius-Elder violin, arguably the most famous musical instrument in Romania.
When: 5 June 2008, 7 - 9 pm;

Where: Romanian Cultural Institute London

Fear: A Survey of Bed Linen The first UK solo show of Romanian artist Aneli Munteanu, following her residency at the Romanian Cultural Institute in the Attic Arts programme.
When: Preview Thursday 5th June, 6.30-9 pm. Exhibition continues until 21st June;
Where: Seven Seven Gallery, 75-77 Broadway Market London Fields, London, E8 4PH

"Transylvania" @ ICR London UK travel author and heritage expert, Bronwen Riley, launches her latest book Transylvania. With photographs by established Romanian photographer Dan Dinescu. A live concert by Balkan music band Mukka will follow.
When: 11 June 2008, 7 - 9 pm;
Where: Romanian Cultural Institute London


Trigon @ Pulse Festival Do not miss brilliant compositions of jazz, rock and Romanian folk music from Trigon band at the Pulse Festival of Central & Eastern European Music.
When: 14 June (3.40 pm) & 15 June (8.30 pm);
Where: Main Stage, South Bank, London & Komedia, Brighton


TarafTransilvan @ Exhibition Road Music Day Authentic folk musicfrom Romania in a festival that celebrates the diversity of international culture.
When: 21 June (12 pm & 3.15 pm);
Where: Kensington Gardens & Lycee Français, London

29 May 2008, 7 – 9 pm

Romanian Cultural Institute

1 Belgrave Square, London, SW1X 8PH

Dear Comrade,

We have assembled a small legacy of songs left from the Communist era. They will be ‘broadcast’ at the Hammer & Tickle book launch. Some of these songs, even now, are known to practically everyone who has been born and raised in Romania. Others, on the contrary, have been long forgotten, during the course of time.

Many thanks to Cristina Tiberian for the English translation.

We are available for further info in case some content is too surreal to believe

Enjoy!

Romanian Cultural Institute Team

“We live decades of great boom”, goes the next song. Yet people were reduced to a name on a ration card, one kilogram of flour and sugar per month, a litre of oil... Meanwhile, Ceausescu was erecting the second-largest building in the world after the Pentagon…

Traim decenii de impliniri marete
Din trecut in zbor ramai nemuritor
In tot ce-am creat si tarii noi am dat
Vin, sarbatoresc pe plaiul romanesc
Poporu-ntreg si tara in cantec te slavesc
Traim decenii de impliniri marete
Traim decenii de munca si avant
Traim decenii de vis si frumusete
Traim decenii de intelept cuvant
Visam decenii traite-n demnitate
Visam decenii de drum spre comunism
Visam decenii de suveranitate
Visam decenii de mandru socialism.
Timp biruitor de glorii si de dor
Noi iti vom urma cu toti chemarea ta
Timp de bucurii ai scumpei Romanii
Poporu-ntreg si tara prin cantec te-or slavi / We Live Decades of Great Achievements
Immortal through the ages
To you we sing the songs of worship
Through everything we’ve built
The people and the country whole
In celebration gather.
We live decades of great achievements
We live decades of labour and boom
We live decades of dreams and beauty
We live decades of wisdom most profound
We dream of decades in dignity pursued
We dream of decades of roads to communism
We dream of decades of sovereignty
We dream of decades of glorious socialism.
Glorious time of victory and dream,
We’ll all follow your call
Joyful time of our dearest Romania
The people and the country whole
To you sing songs of worship.

Ceausescu promoted a program of demolition, resettlement and construction as a way to build a "multilaterally developed socialist society". Entire districts of beautiful old houses and churches were razed to the ground and blocks of flats were built instead. Cranes, thus, played a crucial part in Ceausescu’s plans. And if ever there was love and cranes in one song this is it…

Macarale
Zeci de blocuri
Rad in soare argintii
Zeci de blocuri
In zori de zi
Suie agale
Pe albastrele carari
Macarale suie in zari
Neincetat pana-nserat
Uite bratul lor de fier
Cum ridica pana la cer
Zeci de blocuri
Un cartier
Auzi, canta voios
O mandra fata
Cantul ei cel nou
A cuprins zarea toata
Vrajit ma uit la ea
La mana-i mica
Ce ridica in cer
Cea mai grea macara
Macarale
Rad in soare argintii
Macarale in zori de zi
Suie agale
Pe albastrele carari
Macarale suie in zari
O macara incetinel
Mi-a adus un biletel
Il prind iute si-l citesc
„Spor la lucru
Si te iubesc” (x2) / Cranes
Tenement blocks
Laughing silver in the sun
Tenement blocks
At dawn
Toddle up on blue paths.
Cranes go up into the skies
From dawn to dusk.
There’s the iron arm
As it lifts into the sky
Tens of blocks
A borough, high.
Can you hear the joyful song
Of a girl most proud
Her new song
Has reached the sky
I watch her enchanted
Her tiny hand
That elevates to the blue skies
The heaviest crane.
Cranes
Laughing silver in the sun
Cranes
From dawn to dusk
Toddle up on the blue paths
Cranes go up into the skies
Slowly a crane
Has delivered a note
I catch it; it reads
“Good work and I love you”.(x2)

One of the most famous phrases in communist ideology was “for the people, by the people”. But of course, “for the party, by the party” was much closer to reality….

Poporul, Ceausescu, Romania
De veacuri am luptat, aceasta tara si fiii ei de veacuri au visat
Aceasta minunata primavara pe care o traim inflacarat
Noi implinim tot ce-au visat strabunii si ducem mai departe visul lor
Spre frumusetea acestei tari si-a lumii
Spre fericirea acestui brav popor
Poporul, Ceausescu, Romania!
Partidul, Ceausescu, Romania!
Avem in fruntea noastra un fiu al tarii
Cel mai iubit si cel mai ascultat
Ce-n lume pana-n departarea zarii
E pretuit de oameni si stimat
Aceste trei cuvinte minunate
Cuvinte demne ca un tricolor
Noi le purtam in inima sapate
Spre communism spre anii viitori
Poporul, Ceausescu, Romania!
Partidul, Ceausescu, Romania! / The People, Ceausescu, Romania
For centuries we’ve fought,
For centuries this country
and its sons have dreamt
Of this wonderful spring
We’re now passionately living.
Our forefathers’ dreams,
We’ve made them come true
And we carry them on
For the beauty of this country and this world
For the happiness of this brave people
The People, Ceausescu, Romania!
The Party, Ceausescu, Romania!
The nation’s most beloved son
Is our wisest leader
Cherished and revered
by men from near and far.
Deeply entrenched in our hearts,
Three wonderful words we carry
- Words as proud as our flag
To future years of communist glory
The People, Ceausescu, Romania!
The Party, Ceausescu, Romania!

Nicolae Ceausescu was THE son of the people, risen from among us to become the nation’s leader. “Daring leader” as the next song goes…

Cutezator fiu al poporului
Cantam ca azi e sarbatoare
Sarbatoarea-ntregului popor
Cantam pe cel ce ne conduce
Pe drum de soare spre viitor
Partidului iubit si tarii
Cu drag intreaga viata si-a inchinat
Stegar al fericirii noastre
Cutezator fiu al poporului
De drumuri marete deschizator
Noi iti dorim mereu sanatate
Sa fii oricand pentru al tau popor
Cutezator. / The Nation’s Daring Son
We sing a song of celebration
The joyful people’s holiday
We praise our leader, a guide
Pointing a sunny road into the future
To most beloved land and party
His whole life he has lain down
The flagship of our happiness
The nation’s daring son
Opener of great paths
We wish you health
May you forever be
Your nation’s daring son.

This is the communist version of “What a wonderful world” – “I see trees of green, red roses too (..) I see skies of blue and clouds of white…” You’ll see… it’s very similar! With the odd exception of words like country, flag, scaffold, party, oil well. Well…

Aceasta e patria mea!
Vad Dunarea falnicul apelor drum
Si marea mereu fosnitoare
Vad mandri Carpati si padurea de brazi
Vad sesuri cu braie de soare
Aceasta e patria mea slavita prin cantec si fapta
La greu si la bine sunt una cu ea
Si caile vietii m-asteapta
Aceasta e patria mea slavita prin cantec si fapta
La greu si la bine sunt una cu ea
Aceasta e patria mea
Vad zilele trepte spre maine suind
Stea rosie vad luminoasa
Cu steag fluturand pe o schela am urcat sub cerul inalt
Si tara-ntreaga mi-e casa.
Refren:
Caci astazi sunt liber pe liber pamant
Partidul mi-e scut si tarie
Si-n holde, furnale si sonde ascult
Doar cantecul tau bucurie / This is my country!
I see the Danube, the waters’ glorious road
And the ever rustling sea
I see proud Carpathians and fir tree woods
I see sun-girded fields
This is my country!
Through word and deed revered
For better or worse united as one
And life’s roads await me.
This is my country!
Through word and deed revered
For better or for worse united as one
This is my country!
Each day a step soaring to tomorrow
A red bright star I see,
A flapping flag I took up on a scaffold under the tall skies
And made my whole country my home.
Chorus:…
For today I am free in a land that is free
The party is my shield and my strength
And in corn fields, furnaces and oil wells
I hear you, song of joy!

Trei culori ("Three colours") was Romania’s national anthem between 1977 and 1989. This is an old song, composed by Ciprian Porumbescu, they have just added communist lyrics to it. The colours referred, of course, to the red, yellow and blue on the Romanian flag, which had acquired the Communist coat of arms.

Imnul de stat al
Republicii Socialiste Romania
Trei culori cunosc pe lume,
Amintind de-un brav popor,
Ce-i viteaz, cu vechi renume,
În luptã triumfãtor.
Multe secole luptarã
Strabunii nostri eroi,
Sa traim stapini în tara,
Ziditori ai lumii noi.
Rosu, galben si albastru
Este-al nostru tricolor.
Se inalta ca un astru
Gloriosul meu popor.
Azi partidul ne uneste
Si pe plaiul românesc
Socialismul se cladeste,
Prin elan muncitoresc.
Pentru-a patriei onoare,
Vrajmasii-n luptã-i zdrobim.
Cu alte neamuri sub soare,
Demn, în pace, sa traim.
Iar tu, Romanie mindra,
Tot mereu sa dainuiesti
Si în comunista era
Ca o stea sa stralucesti. / The National Anthem of the
Socialist Republic of Romania
Three colours I know in the world,
Reminders of a brave people –
Since old times, with old renown
Victorious in battle.
For long ages
Our heroic forefathers fought
To live as masters of this land,
Builders of our world.
Red, yellow, and blue
Is our tricolour
The glory of my people
Rises like a star.
Today the Party unites us
And on Romanian land
Socialism will be built,
Through the workers' spirit.
For the honour of our homeland,
We crush enemies in battle.
With other nations under the sun,
We live, trustworthy, in peace.
But you, splendid Romania,
Shall stand for ever and ever,
And in the Communist era
Shall shine as a star.

Party Congresses were held every five years and Ceausescu was re-elected every time. The 14th and last Congress of the Communist party was held in November 1989. The following month witnessed Ceausescu’s fall and the beginning of the end for the Communist era.

Ceausescu reales
Partidul, tara, poporul
Un singur gand si un conducator
Uniti cladim viitorul
Peste comunism ne avantam in zbor
Ceausesc reales la al 14lea congres (x4)
Suntem stapani azi pe toate
In tara noastra si cu toti luptam
Sa v-aratam ca se poate
Sa cutezam , sa vrem si sa visam
Ceausesc reales la al 14lea congres (x4)
E liber, mandru poporul
Ce-a ridicat atatea ctitorii
E mandru si tricolorul
Acestei minunate Romanii
Ceausesc reales la al 14lea congres (x4)
Partidul este puterea
Ce ne conduce inspre viitor
Partidul este iubirea
Pentru al nostru brav conducator
Ceausesc reales la al 14lea congres (x4) / Ceausescu Re-elected
The party, the country, the people,
One thought, one leader
United the future we build
We soar towards communism
Ceausescu re-elected at the 14th party Congress (x4)
In our country today we are almighty rulers
And we all fight to prove
You can dare, want and dream.
Ceausescu re-elected at the 14th party Congress (x4)
Free and proud is the people creator
And proud too is tricolour
Of this wonderful Romania!
Ceausescu re-elected at the 14th party Congress (x4)
The party is the power
Which leads us into the future
The party is the love
For our brave leader
Ceausescu re-elected at the 14th party Congress.(x4)

Ceausescu’s birthday was cause for great celebration across the country. His last anniversary speech on January 26th 1989 filled four newspaper pages and covered all the big moments in our national history, with particular focus on the contribution of the Romanian Communist Party to the “nation’s multilateral development”. A nation that had no food, suffered from cold and, in Bucharest, traveled by car only every other Sunday…

La multi ani, iubit conducator!
La multi ani iubit conducator, multa sanatate, fericire
Fiu viteaz dintr-un viteaz popor
Om cinstit de-ntreaga omenire
La multi ani iubit conducator
Nume drag ca steagul tricolor
Esti lumina tarii si mandria
Ceausescu-nseamna viitor
Ceausescu-nseamna Romania
La multi ani iubit conducator!
La multi ani iubit conducator,
Multa sanatate fericire
Fiu viteaz dintr-un viteaz popor
Om cinstit de-ntreaga omenire
La multi ani iubit conducator
Nume drag ca steagul tricolor
Stima tarii si mandria
Ceausescu-nseamna viitor
Ceausescu-nseamna Romania / Happy Birthday, Beloved Leader!
Happy birthday beloved leader, good health and happiness!
Brave son from a brave people
Respected by the world at large
Happy birthday beloved leader!
Your name as cherished as the tricolour
You are the country’s light and pride
Ceausescu means future
Ceausescu means Romania.
Happy birthday beloved leader!
Happy birthday beloved leader,
Good health and happiness
Brave son from a brave people
Respected by the world at large
Happy birthday beloved leader
Your name as cherished as the tricolour.
You are the country’s light and pride
Ceausescu means future
Ceausescu means Romania.