DAS RELIGIÖSE SCHAFFEN DER KOMPONISTIN CARMEN PETRA BASACOPOL

Abstract

It is a well-known fact that the religious feeling, as a general human feeling, appeared at the same time with the human conscience and reflects in all forms of spirituality. It can be found in all the manifestations of human thinking, in philosophy, science, and arts, since ancient times. Several religious denominations coexist in the Romanian space. In musical terms, they are extremely different as a result of the Byzantine influence, on the one hand, and the Western tradition, on the other. The composers created religious works depending on their own religious affiliation. During the communist period, the religious feeling was suffocated by the Marxist-Leninist doctrine. Since it was forbidden, the composers were left with no choice but "conceal" the religious feeling in their works. All the public could do was to "read" between the lines. Certain composers expressed it using folk poetry or the works of national poet Mihai Eminescu. Others introduced the religious feeling in works with historical subjects and resorted to a blend of religiousness and patriotism. After the fall of communism, the religious feeling could be freely expressed. The women composers display a number of particulars. A woman is usually a mother. She is the one who gives birth, which intensifies the feeling of submission and devoutness to God. Carmen Petra Basacopol is one of Romania's most prolific composers. Many of her works express the religious feeling in a singular fashion. This study aims to draw attention to a number of stylistic and constructive aspects in some of her works inspired by biblical texts.