Ioan Vidu in Lugoj, Romania

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Ion Vidu, a renowned Romanian composer and choral conductor, left an indelible mark on the small town of Lugoj, transforming it into a prominent center for choral music in Romania. Born in Mânerău, Arad district, on December 29, 1863, Vidu began his musical journey at the Arad Conservatory from 1880 to 1881 and later pursued his studies in Caransebeş, Banat region, in 1885. He then attended the Conservatory of Music and Declamation in Iaşi from 1890 to 1891, honing his skills under the guidance of Gavriil Musicescu. After returning to Banat, Vidu secured a position in Lugoj, where he resided for the remainder of his life. Throughout his career, Vidu composed predominantly for chorus, with almost all of his works showcasing his mastery of choral music. In 1922, he founded the Banat Choral and Brass Band Society, which boasted an impressive membership of over 10,000 peasant singers at its peak. Like his contemporaries Gavriil Musicescu, Béla Bartók, and Dimutru Kiriac-Georgescu, Vidu was a devoted collector of folk music, drawing inspiration from Romanian folk tunes for the majority of his compositions. While relying on these traditional melodies, Vidu avoided the characteristic modes of folk music and instead employed major and minor tonality in his works. His first collection of choral music, Severina, released in 1899, achieved widespread acclaim, with many original melodies often mistakenly attributed to authentic folk tunes due to their popularity. The patriotic and anti-Habsburg themes prevalent in Vidu's subsequent compositions also resonated deeply with the public, solidifying his reputation as a celebrated composer.