Felicia Donceanu


Felicia Donceanu was a Romanian painter, sculptor, pianist and composer. She composed works that were performed internationally, and was particularly noted for her harp compositions and choral works. Donceanu was awarded the Romanian Academy George Enescu Prize in 1984.

Life and career

Donceanu was born in Bacău on 28 January 1931. She originally planned to be a stage director, but became interested in music and studied composition at the Ciprian Porumbescu Conservatory in Bucharest with Mihail Jora. She also studied harmony with Paul Constantinescu, theory and solfege with Ioan Chirescu, and orchestration with Theodor Rogalski. She also studied piano with Eugenia Ionescu. After completing her studies in 1956, she worked as an editor for ESPLA until 1958, and then for Editura Muzicala in Bucharest until 1966. After leaving her editorial position, she worked full-time as a composer, producing works that have been performed internationally. She is a member of the Romanian Composers' Union, and has won their composition prize a number of times. Donceanu performed on radio, and also given radio lectures.
Donceanu composed incidental music for plays by Thornton Wilder, Moliere and Shakespeare, among others. She was particularly noted for her harp compositions and choral works. According to Viorel Cosma, Donceanu "delights in mixing the timbres of old and modern instruments...to produce light, sonorous works with a truly Romanian spirit." She also painted and sculpted.
She was married to the poet Alexandru Voitin. Donceanu died in Drăgoești on 21 January 2022, at the age of 90.

Honors and awards

Works

Donceanu composed for stage plays and instrumental ensemble, but focused mostly on chamber works. Her music is influenced by Romanian folk music, sometimes featuring traditional folk instruments. Selected works include:Arie de Concert for baritone and orchestraMăiastra for soprano, chorus, and string orchestraPicolicomando for tenor, children's chorus, organ, violin, and percussionYolanda for soprano and orchestraRugăciunea Domnească for voice, string orchestra, and percussionRugăciunea Domnească for male chorus, string orchestra, and percussionInvocatio with Biblical texts and fragments of verses by Ovid, scored for soprano, piano, violin, and chamber orchestraClopote la soroc a cantata for SATB chorus and orchestraRetro-Tango, for bassoon ensembleInscription on a Mast for harpOdinioară, song-cycle for mezzo-soprano and pianoMărgele four songs to verses by Tudor ArgheziTrei Cântece pentru Til to verses by George CălinescuDor I for contraltoDor II for contraltoImagini pe versuri de Eminescu for sopranoCu Penetul Mărturisiri, cycle of five songs for bass-baritone to poems by Alexandru Voitin, from 1975 to 1978 and 1986Cântece de fată frumoasă Cântând cu Ienăchiţă VăcărescuSincronPonti Euxini Clepsydra for soprano, clarinet, oboe, percussion, and harpMai sunt încă roze, to texts by Macedonski, is a five-song work for soprano and instrumental ensembleTwo Serenades for baritone, flute, and harp, to verses by BaconskiCântece de fată frumoasă three-movement work for mezzo-soprano, English horn, and marimbaCântând cu Ienăchiţă Văcărescu for soprano, lute, viola da gamba, flute, harpsichord, and percussion, text from Ienăchiţă VăcărescuAbţibilder după Tristan Tzara semi-staged work for soprano, harpsichord, and two viola da gambaCutia cu surprise … şi pentru oameni încrutaţi for soprano, two viola da gamba, harpsichord, piano, and puppetsTablouri vivante , for voice and instruments
Her work has been recorded and issued on CD, including:
  • ''Polhymnia – Sacrée et Profane''