A famous Romanian folk musician sent a harsh message to his compatriots overheated by national sentiments.
Grigore Leșe, one of the most famous Romanian folk musicians and folklorists, made surprising statements in a TV program, who claims that one of the best-known Romanian patriotic folk songs is of Hungarian origin.
The 69-year-old artist, born in Sztojkavalva, Máramaros county, was interviewed in the Prima TV studio about folk music and folklore on the occasion of the Romanian national holiday on the first of December. In the Insider politic program broadcast on Saturday, when asked by the host, Grigore Leșe stated that the patriotic song Noi suntem români (We are Romanians)
not representative of Romanian music.
“This is a startup. It is as if the Bulgarians say, "we are Bulgarians", and the Hungarians say, "we are Hungarians", explained the folk musician.
He made an even more surprising statement about another Romanian patriotic folk song, which, similar to the one that begins with Mi Romanians, is also popularly performed and sung on the first of December, but also on other Romanian holidays and occasions.
Leșe claims that the song Aşa-i românul (Ilyen a románul) has Hungarian roots. "After all, I'm a musician, I studied both at school and at the academy.
If a melody jumps to the fifth, it is Hungarian folklore.
But they (the Romanian performers - ed. note) sing the Aşa song in Romanian as if it were a Romanian melody, even though it is Hungarian. They don't know, because they don't have the knowledge, they are opportunists," stated the renowned entertainer.
Grigore Leşe also criticized the fake patriotism, especially on the Romanian national holiday. “He comes on the first of December and dresses in peasant clothes. Good, you're dressed. When I ask who the outfit belongs to, the answer is the following: "I borrowed it for the first of December, because that's what they said in the mayor's office," the artist disparaged.
Grigore Leșe completed his studies at the Faculty of Performing Arts (bassoon) at the Gheorghe Dima Academy of Music in Cluj. He plays several instruments.
Cover image: If a melody jumps to the fifth, it is Hungarian folklore, emphasized Grigore Lese, who says that Romanians sing the Romanian song from Aşa as if it were a Romanian melody
Source: Facebook/Grigore Lese
