The musical phenomenon of the young once generations (pop-rock, jazz, folk, electro) no longer belongs to outsiders or the marginalized. The Revolution of 1989 brought us freedom of creation and expression. With the essential observation that, even during the period of the constraints of the communist regime, this music and the entire (sub)culture developed around it constituted a step in individual development.
Musically, Timişoara represents a true beacon for the whole country, including Bucharest. Many times, the most important events were and are organized there (the "TimRock" Festival from the 80s is the first example of a whole series that has expanded today; "Gărâna Jazz" has been set up for 27 years also from there) ; musicians from Timisoara are followed with interest everywhere. There are many cases of composers, instrumentalists and soloists from Timisoara who settled in Bucharest and other important cities. Unfortunately for our culture, even more emigrated. They continued to create abroad, whether it was a hobby or an extension of their career in the country, sometimes beyond what they had achieved here.
Objective conditions prevented Timișoara's music from being advertised, as it should have been. After 1990, the freedom of journalism created the conditions for the return to the crucible on Bega. The real history was strung together like pearls, starting from the archives identified from various sources (primarily those from the Electrecord, Radio and TVR portfolios, but also from private archives). And the continuation could also be articulated, with the appearance of new artists and their creations.
Objective conditions prevented Timișoara's music from being advertised, as it should have been. After 1990, the freedom of journalism created the conditions for the return to the crucible on Bega. The real history was strung together like pearls, starting from the archives identified from various sources (primarily those from the Electrecord, Radio and TVR portfolios, but also from private archives). And the continuation could also be articulated, with the appearance of new artists and their creations.
Personally, this year I returned to the deepening and synthesis of some research that I have been undertaking since 1990. In 2023, the year of Timișoara - European Capital of Culture, I had the opportunity to physically approach the spirit of the place (there is even talk of a sound from Banat, from Phoenix onwards, without extrapolating). I add the meetings with the musicians from the diaspora, who return to their native places over the summer. In addition to focusing the research and publicizing it in various ways, the systematization of the results involved the identification of unique archives that would illustrate and complete the final picture.
The first action is also interactive: holding a conference at the home of "impricinati", which will connect essential moments from the music of Timișoara in a "guided tour". With audio-video examples, but also in interaction with musicians / actors of yesterday and today, not least spectators: fans, eyewitnesses, interested young people.
Casa Tineretului is the ideal place for this event, starting from the "musical history" of the establishment - managed by the Timiș County Foundation - and up to the current honorable status, that of "the only youth center in Romania that holds the Quality Certificate for Centers of Youth from the Council of Europe".
Remember / warm-up: 6 p.m., the time when, in the 70s and 80s, the famous Club PM6 operated in the lobby of the Youth House; special guest: Mimo Obradov from that team, same place.
Rock, Jazz, Folk, Pop, Electro... Yesterday in Timisoara, today in Europe. About places, people and their music. All these musical subgenres that we are talking about constitute the first cultural hook for the young generations. All other online and offline communications associated with this conference are intended to align with the objectives of the Cultural Strategy of Timisoara.
Doru Ionescu