1. DOINA - Traditional (Romanian Folk), 1:44 Listen

Terry Ellen Christophersen: flute, Marie Eve Simard: clarinet, Arrangement: Terry Ellen Christophersen  

The sun is breaking in the morning over the high mountains of Transylvania. The Year's Day begins as two shepherds - on opposite mountains, - echo each other, playing their bucium and welcoming the day by calling their flocks to graze. This Doina – Romanian for "Song"- is based on a slow, traditional melody "to awaken".

2. BĂTUTA LA RÎND -Traditional (Romanian Folk), 2:38 Listen

Terry Ellen Christophersen: flute, Marie-Eve Simard; clarinet, Mircea Trifan: electric bass/voice

Arrangement: Mircea Trifan and Terry Ellen Christophersen

A call to dance! As the year/day continues, the energetic sheep run freely through the hills…. Loosely based on a Moldavian melody, here the flute and clarinet are featured playing very fast and in unison!

3. DE DOI CLARINET - Traditional (Romanian Folk), 2:39    Listen

Terry Ellen Christophersen: flute, Marie-Eve Simard; clarinet, Mircea Trifan: electric bass

Arrangement: Mircea Trifan, Terry Ellen Christophersen and Marie Eve Simard

A more relaxed romp through the hills, still playfully teasing and dancing, this melody features the flute and clarinet again in unison but each alternating solos throughout this traditional Transylvanian pairs' dance.

4. POBJEDNICKI COCEK - Traditional (Gypsy/Serbian), 4:11  Listen

Terry Ellen Christophersen: flute, Marie-Eve Simard; clarinet, Mircea Trifan: electric bass

Arrangement: Mircea Trifan, Terry Ellen Christophersen and Marie Eve Simard

A gypsy caravan noisily traveling below on a winding dirt road passage through the mountains suddenly interrupts the peacefulness of the mountainside. This folk melody has origins in Serbia and features "gypsy style" cadenzas in both the clarinet and flute.

5. HORA MARŢIŞORULUI - Traditional (Romanian Folk), 1:38  Listen

Terry Ellen Christophersen: flute, Mircea Trifan: guitar

Arrangement: Terry Ellen Christophersen and Mircea Trifan

Day/spring! The celebration of the "Martisor" has been traced back many hundreds of years. Every year on the 1st of March, Romanians celebrate spring by dressing in a special costume and each man gives his special woman a "Martisor" - a small jewel/figurine representing something from folklore, tied to a red and white silk string. The white represents the wisdom of a man, and the red is fire, blood and the sun.

6. SADLA MUSKA - Traditional (Czech / Slovak Folk), 2:21 Listen

Terry Ellen Christophersen: flute, Mircea Trifan: classical guitar

Arrangement: Terry Ellen Christophersen and Mircea Trifan

The year/day is growing warmer as the sun climbs higher. A reflective melody can be heard in the distance, gradually speeding up to a dizzying tempo; a sad fly's last attempt at regaining the enthusiasm of youth. A Slovakian melody, literally translated means "sad fly"!

7. ROZSA CSARDAS by Jeno Hubay , 2:02 Listen

Terry Ellen Christophersen: flute, Mircea Trifan: electric guitar

Arrangement: Terry Ellen Christophersen and Mircea Trifan

Everything is in full bloom! The emotional exaggerations of a day/summer cause one to daydream of unfulfilled desires….The "Csardas" is a traditional Hungarian dance which usually begins with a slow, seductive opening, and ends with a rush of adrenaline!

8. HORA RÂULUI LUI PAPUC: Traditional (Romanian Folk), 2:30  Listen

Terry Ellen Christophersen: flute, Mircea Trifan: electric guitar

Arrangement: Mircea Trifan

The dancing continues…..The Romanian "Hora" is a traditional dance done in a circle. Here two Romanian folk dance melodies have been combined to form a "circle"! (i.e. the beginning comes back at the end!)

9. SÂRBA PĂSĂRILOR - Traditional (Romanian Folk), 1:33  Listen

Terry Ellen Christophersen: flute, Mircea Trifan: electric guitar

Arrangement: Mircea Trifan

Faster and faster the tempo of life dances even after the sun sets. After a long emotional day, one's spirit is immediately restored by this rapid Romanian traditional dance. This "sarba of the birds" is played even faster than it is usual for dancing!

10. CELTIC WALTZ - Traditional (Scottish Celtic), 2:09    Listen

Terry Ellen Christophersen: flute, Mircea Trifan: electric guitar

Arrangement: Terry Ellen Christophersen and Mircea Trifan

The tempo of the day/year becomes reflective of the cooling atmosphere surrounding …… The Celts were believed to have crossed through Transylvania some 400 years before Christ! This waltz is a combination of two traditionally Scottish melodies with an "unorthodox" use of a waltz rhythm by the guitar.

11. CHEMARE - Solo Improvisation by Mircea Trifan, 2:50  Listen

An anticipation and agitated longing for what is ahead. This solo piece was written and performed by Mircea Trifan.

12. VALURILE DUNĂRII by Iosif Ivanovici, 5:22    Listen

Gabriela Dănilă: voice, Terry Ellen Christophersen: flute, Mircea Trifan: classical guitar

Arrangement: Mircea Trifan

The day/year continues a slow cool down, darkness is near and the longing begins, stirred by the memories of past day/years. A breeze gently stirs the waves along the Danube……Composed by Romanian, Iosef Ivanovici in the late 1800's. "Waves of the Danube" is even more poignant with voice.

13. OCHI CHERNIE - Traditional (Russian/Gypsy Folk), 3 06 Listen

Terry Ellen Christophersen: flute, Mircea Trifan: electric guitar.

Arrangement: Terry Ellen Christophersen and Mircea Trifan

"Ochi chernie, oci strasnie, oci zgucie I prikasnie!" "Dark eyes, passionate eyes, eyes that burn, beautiful eyes!" The gypsies have set up camp for the night and have begun to dance….a dark-haired, dark-eyed beauty mesmerizes her audience with her fiery passion…. A traditional Russian/gypsy melody played all over the world.

14. PERINIŢA - Traditional (Romanian Folk), 2:02  Listen

Terry Ellen Christophersen: piccolo, Mircea Trifan: electric guitar

Arrangement: Terry Ellen Christophersen and Mircea Trifan

As the partying continues, the speed of the music mounts also, warming anything that could have become cold ….A very rapid traditional Romanian dance done in a circle with couples weaving in and out, choosing a new partner after the couple has kneeled on their knees – on a pillow! - in the middle of the circle and kissed!

15. FLORILE DALBE - Traditional (Romanian Folk), 2:08   Listen

Gabriela Dănilă: voice, Terry Ellen Christophersen: flute, Mircea Trifan: classical guitar

Arrangement: Mircea Trifan

A beautiful traditional Romanian Christmas Carol featuring classical guitar and flute.

16. THE HURON CAROL -  4:17    Listen       Watch video

Ariane Roberto:voice, Mircea Trifan: classical guitar

Arrangement: Mircea Trifan

Written in 1643 by Jean de Brebeuf, a Christian Missionary at Sainte-Marie among the Hurons, a French settlement near Midland, Ontario. This is perhaps the oldest Canadian Christmas carol!

17. ASEARĂ PE ÎNSERATE - Traditional (Romanian Folk), 2:23 Listen

Gabriela Dănilă: voice

Arrangement: Gabriela Dănilă

This melody is based on an old Romanian liturgical piece, usually sung during the Christmas service.