INFORMATION BULLETIN

Music has always placed an impor­tant part in the life of St. Mary’s Church of Cleveland, Ohio. The Orthodox Church in general, and the Romanian Orthodox Church in particular, are blessed with beautiful music. Too of­ten it is not fully evaluated or appreci­ated in the local parish.

St. Mary’s Church has had only three official cantors in its long history of 75 years. loan Baciu (the father of Mrs. Maria Pavel of Detroit) was the first cantor, Mr. Andrei Ghetia took over as cantor in 1913 and served in this capacity diligently and competently for over 50 years. After his illness and subsequent death, the parish asked Mr. John Ghidiu Sr. to follow Mr. Ghetia, with whom he had worked for many years. Mr. Ghidiu is still cantor of the church, even though he is 88 years of age.

Throughout the years, there were a number of assistant cantors, among whom were Messrs. James Suciu, Nicolae Radu, John Florea, George Choban and Peter Androne Sr. Re­cently, Mr. Mircea Valescu has been assisting, as is also Mr. Gabriel Salanty. Having knowledgeable cantors, St. Mary’s is still one of the few churches which celebrates Matins and other Services, besides the regular Liturgy.

Aside from the music provided by the cantors, St. Mary’s has distin­guished itself among other Romanian Orthodox parishes with its choral music. The Romanian Orthodox Church is fortunate in having a wide range of church choral music, written by some of the most outstanding Romanian composers. Romanians in general also have a great wealth of folk music.

Even prior to World War I, St. Mary’s parish had a choir for special events. The priest at that time, Fr. Octavian Muresan, an accomplished musician, not only taught the cantors, but also instructed the choir, which gave the responses in church from time to time. Fr. Muresan returned to Ro­mania shortly after World War I and was replaced by Fr. Elie Pop.

The choir which Fr. Muresan had founded was revived in 1926 by Fr. Pop, who brought in Fr. Emil Gradinaru of Youngstown once a week to re hearse the members. Due to various circumstances, the choir functioned only sporadically. Fr. Elie Pop resigned on July 29, 1928 and in his place Fr. John Trutza of Gary, Indiana was elected. Fr. Trutza took over his duties as parish priest on October 1, 1928.

Shortly thereafter, on November 2, 1928, Fr. John Trutza founded the “Reuniunea de Cântări” choir (Soci­ety of Songs). Three years later, the choir received permission from the world-renowned Romanian composer, conductor and musician, George Enescu, to name the choir after him.

From its founding in 1928, the “George Enescu” choir has been sing­ing continuously to the present time. The choir primarily limits itself to giv­ing responses for the church services, but has also built up a repertoire of Romanian folk songs. The choir sang not only at parish affairs, but also at various civic functions in the area and often traveled to other Romanian com­munities to sing at various church con­gresses and other National Romanian events.

During the depression years of the 30’s, membership in the choir was high, primarily due to various circumstances. This was still the era before T.V., affluency and permissiveness. Since there were no youth organizations at that time, the choir afforded its mem­bers social and recreational activities also.

The “George Enescu” choir was rehearsed by Father Trutza and at Ser­vices was directed by his wife, Preoteasa Sabina Trutza.

A male choir was also founded in the parish, which gave responses at the Liturgy occasionally and sang at funerals and weddings. This is believed to have been the only male choir in the Episcopate.

During World War 11, when many young men and women from the par­ish were called to the service of their country, the choir membership de­creased somewhat. Nevertheless, the choir managed to stay together and give the responses regularly.

After World War II with all its af­termath , a number of the members never rejoined the choir. Some left the city, others were married and a few died. The choir had to function with a re­duced number of members.

Father John Trutza passed away in December, 1954. A few months later, Father and Preoteasa Vasile Hategan were called to take over the parish. While in New York City, Preoteasa Cornelia Hategan, who had studied music professionally, assisted Mrs. Rozeta Metes at rehearsals and often conducted the choir for 14 years.

Because of her musical background, Preoteasa Hategan was asked to “tem­porarily” instruct and conduct the “George Enescu” until a new director could be found. This “temporary” sta­tus has lasted for 23 years and proved to be a happy arrangement.

The first thing the “temporary” di­rector did was to call back some of the former members and recruit new ones. New music was learned, since some of the members and parishioners were tiring of the same responses every Sunday. This was time-consuming: new music to be found, duplicated and re­hearsed every Thursday evening.

With hard work, devotion and per­severance, the choir was able to build up a large and varied repertoire to be able to vary the responses. Today the choir has learned a large number of Communion hymns (”pricesne”), vari­ous renditions of the Lord’s prayer, special hymns to the Mother of God (”axioane”), special troparia and other prescribed hymns of the church.

After mastering much of the Roma­nian music, the choir also learned to give the responses in English, as was evidenced at the Holy Liturgy during the Church Congress this last summer at the Vatra.

Besides the music of the Liturgy, the choir also learned all the Vesper music in English, which is sung at local inter-Orthodox Vespers, as well as at Lenten missions in the churches of the Deanery.

When requested, the choir also gives the responses in English or Romanian at weddings. It is one of the few choirs which knows all the music for the con­secration of churches, participating at the Consecration Services in Washing ton, D.C. and Akron, besides the con­secration of its own church in 1960.

Recognizing its competency and serious intent, the Episcopate asked the “George Enescu” to work on a project for new Liturgical music with Maestro Remus Tzincoca. After a few intensive and grueling months, the Liturgy which is widely used in the Episcopate today in three and four voices, both in English and Romanian, was published. A recording of Roma­nian Liturgical, Folk and Christian music, was put out by the George Enescu choir, being widely distributed in the Episcopate.

Being acknowledged for its rich repertoire and its professionalism, the “George Enescu” choir was asked by the Voice of America and Radio Free Europe to tape a number of hymns and responses, which are regularly broad­cast to Romania.

Aside from the mixed choir, Preoteasa Hategan also organized a smaller Women’s Choral Ensemble, which also had a fairly good reper­toire, and gives responses in English, especially on days other than Sunday, and at some weddings.

Besides the project of helping pub­lish Liturgical music for the Episco­pate, Preoteasa Hategan organized stu­dent choirs during the Summer Courses at the Vatra and helped train young people to take over, as for instance, Miss Stephanie Yova of Akron.

To keep a choir going, to stimulate interest, to rehearse regularly, to re­cruit new members, is a never-ending and tiresome chore, but one that must be done if you are to assure its future. The older generation passed on and younger members must take over. The recruitment of young people and new choir leadership is an essential policy. The choir still has a number of steady and faithful members, some of whom have been singing regularly for over 40 years. Increasingly, Preoteasa Hategan has been helped in rehearsing and conducting by Mr. John J. Sibisan, and more recently by Mrs. Mary Jane Vendel. This assures continuity.

Though the members are dedicated, rehearse many Tuesdays throughout the year, sing regularly, they are too often taken for granted, especially since some of the local parishioners are not even cognizant of the fact that some parishes do not even have a choir.

On its 50th Anniversary, it was felt that the occasion should be duly cel­ebrated and the members rightfully and deservedly honored. Therefore, there will be a Banquet and Program on Sunday, September 24,1978 at 1 p.m. following the Holy Liturgy in the new and spacious social hall of the parish. Everyone is cordially invited. Mr. John Mihu, the general chairman, has planned a meaningful and entertain­ing program.

The “George Enescu” has won the respect and admiration of many for its dedication and contribution to the beauty of the Service by its music during these past 50 years. The mem­bers, especially those who have sung so faithfully for so many years, are to be sincerely congratulated. The past leaders and Preoteasa Cornelia Hategan surely are to be commended for the fine job they have done in rehearsing and conducting the choir. It is to be remembered that at no time did any­one get paid for their services. No did the Church Council ever contribute financially or otherwise to the support of the choir. All members are volun­teers and all expenses are borne by the choir itself. It is truly a labor of love. The Episcopate and its members join in congratulating the “George Enescu” choir on its 50th Anniversary. May the members continue to raise their voices in song for many more years to the glory of God, the satisfaction of the parish and the inspiration of future generations.

JANE MARTIN

(”Solia” September, 1978)