Archdeacon Prof. Sebastian Barbu-Bucur at His 70th Anniversary

Prof. Sebastian Barbu-Bucur is an established personality in the area of Byzantine music.

His studies in music and theology (Singing School, Theological Seminary, Music Conservatory of Bucharest and Thessaloniki, Greece, his Ph. D. degree in Musicology and Byzantine Studies awarded in 1982 by the Gheorghe Dima Conservatory of Cluj-Napoca on his thesis Musical Culture of Byzantine Tradition in Romania in 18th Century and Early 19th Century) convey an impressive image of prof. Sebastian Barbu-Bucur's comprehensive training. The erudite researcher Sebastian Barbu-Bucur worked on his thesis under the guidance of well-known professors Romeo Ghircoiasiu and Sigismund Toduta, and in 1985 graduated from the Macedonian Conservatory of Thessaloniki, Greece with a final 10 (marked exceptional/arista).

The Composers Union of Romania awarded him four times its prize, and the Romanian Academy once.

In 1986 the Music Conservatory of Thessaloniki conferred international recognition to Sebastian Barbu-Bucur when it awarded him the special diploma Acra Evareskeia.

His rigorous scientifical investigations of Filothei sin Agai Jipei's work, the first Romanian musical book of psalms (1713) discovered so far, were exemplary.

His activities produced a whole series of books, articles, studies and compositions, publishing, editorship and conducting work, etc.

This is but an attempt at a very brief presentation of this remarkable musician now reaching the age of 70. The learned researcher, the highly skilled conductor, the dedicated professor, archdeacon Sebastian Barbu-Bucur, who has also made himself known as a devoted servant of the Church, of the cultural essence and the spirituality of Byzantine music, deserves more extensive consideration.

Petru Stanciu