The Aspects and Problems of Musicology in the 21th Century in the Republic of Moldova

Abstract

The author of the article highlights as the main issue the development of musicology in the former Soviet Republic of Moldova in the context of “cultural transfer” between Russia, Moldova and Romania. The solution to this is based on methods of historical comparative analysis, taking into consideration the transnational approach to the close-knit historical ties of Moldova, Russia and Romania. The analysis of inter-ethnical connections has conditioned the principle behind the drafting of this article, which combines a historical, chronological and geopolitical perspective. It is divided into two parts. The first part describes the development of professional musical culture in Moldova prior to its gaining independence in 1991, and consists of three time periods, including Moldova (Bessarabia) as part of the Russian Empire, Moldova as part of the Kingdom of Romania and the MSSR (the Moldavian Soviet Socialist Republic) as part of the USSR. The necessity for such an introduction is explained by the fact that prior to gaining independence Moldova experienced several waves of “cultural transfer,” which have anticipated the pressure points and aspects of musicology of the 21th century. The second part focuses on the development of musical scholarship in independent Moldova, which has had the opportunity to establish transnational ties with other countries. After the dissolution of the USSR, the radical metamorphosis of the country’s social and geopolitical structure was accentuated by issues caused by poverty and the change of the official language. At the same time, this part of the article provides an overview of music scholarship, covering the development of the musical education in higher educational institutions, on the example of the Academy of Music, Theater and Fine Arts, and its impact on the evolutionary process of musical scholarship through the activity of the graduates of the leading Russian higher education establishments — the Moscow State P. I. Tchaikovsky Conservatory and the Gnesin Russian Academy of Music, as well as a brief description of the founders of these schools of musicology. Concurrently, a process of “cultural transfer” with Romanian musicology experts and composers has taken place, and the beneficial influence of the latter on the development of professional education and musicology in Moldova is also examined. 

Keywords: musical culture of Russia, Moldova, and Romania, musicology of Moldova, “cultural transfer,” professional music education