Notes of Europe European Thinkers By Delia Folescu

Transylvania, a historical province in present-day Romania, has been historically and culturally linked to both Central Europe and Southeastern Europe, and its music reflects those influences. Between 1692 and 1791 and 1849–65 Sibiu was the capital of the Principality of Transylvania.

For Sibiu, a city over eight centuries old and a convergent point of numerous economic and spiritual influences, musical manifestations have been a constant part of the city life. Since the 16th century, Sibiu had one of the first European schools for organ, funded by Heronymus Ostermayer and the city’s archive contains music scores signed by composers of the 17th and 18th centuries.

It was in 1774, at the court of Samuel von Brukenthal, governor of Transylvania, when a professional orchestra held its first concert. In 1792, one year after Mozart’s death, “The Kidnap from Serai” was played in Sibiu, and later in 1800, the “Creation” Oratorio by J. Haydn. During the 19th century, great European musicians played in Sibiu: Franz Liszt, Johan Strauss, Johannes Brahms, Joseph Joachim, Richard Strauss and others.

According to a nineteenth-century Viennese traveller Sibiu had the reputation of being a " musical town, with someone playing at least one instrument in every house". This musical activity was sustained and continued by both Romanian and German cultural societies until mid 20th century.

Carl Filtsch 28.05.1830 - 11.05.1845

Carl Filtsch is one of the most interesting and at the same time also tragic figures in Transylvanian music history. He is definitely one of the most outstanding 19th century musicians. Early in his childhood, he showed strong signs of musical genius. His short life was a journey of success all through Europe, a meteoric triumph, however abruptly interrupted. Carl Filtsch reached his artistic peak when, at the age of 12 he became Chopin's favourite pupil and friend.

"Once this boy starts touring I can close shop "Once this boy starts touring I can close shop!", said Liszt about the child who was acclaimed in Vienna, Paris and London. The 25 compositions of Carl Filtsch have been discovered no sooner than the 1960's

Ján Levoslav Bella (Johann Leopold Bella) 4.09.1843 – 25.05.1936

J.L. Bella was a Slovak composer, conductor and music teacher He was ordained a priest in 1866. From 1869 to 1881 he was town director of music at Kremnica. He left the priesthood in 1881 and converted to Protestantism, becoming director of music in Hermannstadt, now Sibiu in modern Romania, where he remained until 1921. From 1921 to 1928 he lived in retirement in Vienna, moving to Bratislava in 1928, where he died in 1936.

Hermann Bönicke 26.11.1821-12.12.1879 He was born in Endorf, Saxonia on 26.11.1821, and died on 12.12.1879 in Hermannstadt, Transylvania, now Sibiu, Romania. Not much is known about his life prior to 1861 beyond that he was an organist and music teacher, first in Qedlinburg then in Aschersleben.

At Franz Liszt’s recommendation he arrived in Hermanstadt in 1861 and one year later, became cantor of the evangelical church, music director for the Hermanstädter Musicverein, the music society of Sibiu, and leader of the local men’s choir. As a pedagogue, he taught piano, and high school and Seminar music.