*2nd Generation dance. A dance that developed and was disseminated in a non-traditional way. 2G dances are specific – have a fixed format designed to correspond with the arrangement of a particular recording., whereas 1G dances are generic – have a shorter sequence that works with live music – where many different songs are played and arrangements vary according to the tastes of musicians and dancers. For more on the differences between 1st & 2nd G dances click here.
Hora Veche (pronounced HOH-rah VEH-keh) means “old dance”. That can cover a lot of bases, and in Romania it seems there are lots of artistic creations called Hora Veche. For the ca. 1850 music sometimes called Hora Veche but more properly known as Până când nu te iubeam (Dorule, dorule), see https://folkdancefootnotes.org/music/pana-cand-nu-te-iubeam-hora-veche-ca-1850-romania/. Below is the only YouTube I could find of Romanians dancing something called Hora Veche.
There are lots of Romanian music YouTubes called Hora Veche.
However, among Recreational Folk Dancers worldwide (except in Romania) there are two Hora Veche‘s.
Hora Veche 1 (Hora Anton Pann)
Called by some Hora Veche 1, also Hora Anton Pann. See a demonstration here: http://www.folkdance.com/video/hora-anton-pann/ Caption with this YouTube reads: Hora Anton Pann, Romanian Folk Dance led by Steve S. at CHIFDC on 2-27-13. Beautiful Rumanian circle dance, transcribed [by] Anton Pann in the 19th century, reconstructed by Theodor Vasilescu.
The music and choreography were discovered in an 1852 collection entitled “Hospital of Love” written by ethnographer Anton Pann; Anton Pann was a Romanian folklore collector in the 19th century who wrote down songs and described dances of his time; using his description of a hora dance from Muntenia; song recorded by the famous singer Maria Tanase. That song can be heard using the link at the top of this page (also here https://folkdancefootnotes.org/music/2-genres/pana-cand-nu-te-iubeam-hora-veche-ca-1850-romania/)
I’m calling this dance 1st G based on its antiquity and “Romanian” origin, though its complexity and musical accompaniment seem to be closer to court than peasant traditions.
A written description of Hora Anton Pann can be found here http://duramecho.com/Dance/BEECIIFolkDance/Hora_Veche.html I haven’t tried to compare the written version with the YouTube version.
Hora Veche the 2G (Florescu & Dion)
In 2012 Sonia Dion and Cristian Florescu introduced at Stockton a dance they called Hora Veche, using music edited from this recording:
Ira Weisbrud says Sonia & Cristian choreographed the dance. It has all the hallmarks of a dance created for the Recreational market – beautiful music, several figures flowing seamlessly, repeated, matching the musical phrases – custom made for the recording. I love it! But please don’t call this a Romanian dance – it’s not danced in Romania. I categorize it as 2nd Generation Romanian material.
Hora Veche, was an instant hit. I count 16 YouTubes of recreational groups doing Hora Veche.
For sheet music, see: https://folkdancefootnotes.org/music/hora-veche-sheet-music/
Folkdance Footnotes 