Clejani
Encyclopedia
Clejani is a commune in Giurgiu County
, Romania
, about 40 km south of Bucharest
, in the Vlaşca
region (part of Muntenia
), on the Danube Plains near the Bulgaria
n border. It is composed of four villages: Clejani, Neajlovu, Podu Doamnei and Sterea.
The commune is famous for its lăutari
or gypsy musicians, especially the group Taraful Haiducilor
(a.k.a. Taraf de Haïdouks) and members of the group Mahala Raï Banda
.
Giurgiu County
Giurgiu is a county of Romania, in Muntenia, with the capital city at Giurgiu.- Demographics :In 2002, it had a population of 297,859 and the population density was 84/km².* Romanians – over 96%* Roma – 3.5%, and others.- Geography :...
, Romania
Romania
Romania is a country located at the crossroads of Central and Southeastern Europe, on the Lower Danube, within and outside the Carpathian arch, bordering on the Black Sea...
, about 40 km south of Bucharest
Bucharest
Bucharest is the capital municipality, cultural, industrial, and financial centre of Romania. It is the largest city in Romania, located in the southeast of the country, at , and lies on the banks of the Dâmbovița River....
, in the Vlaşca
Vlaşca
Vlaşca may refer to several entities in Romania:* Vlaşca River a, tributary of the Satului* Vlaşca County, a former county in southern Muntenia* Vlaşca, a village in Feteşti city, Ialomiţa County...
region (part of Muntenia
Muntenia
Muntenia is a historical province of Romania, usually considered Wallachia-proper . It is situated between the Danube , the Carpathian Mountains and Moldavia , and the Olt River to the west...
), on the Danube Plains near the Bulgaria
Bulgaria
Bulgaria , officially the Republic of Bulgaria , is a parliamentary democracy within a unitary constitutional republic in Southeast Europe. The country borders Romania to the north, Serbia and Macedonia to the west, Greece and Turkey to the south, as well as the Black Sea to the east...
n border. It is composed of four villages: Clejani, Neajlovu, Podu Doamnei and Sterea.
The commune is famous for its lăutari
Lautari
The Romanian word Lăutar denotes a class of traditional musicians. Most often, and by tradition, Lăutari are members of a professional clan of Romani musicians , also called Ţigani lăutari. The term is derived from Lăută the name of a string instrument...
or gypsy musicians, especially the group Taraful Haiducilor
Taraful Haiducilor
Taraf de Haïdouks are a taraf, i.e., a troupe of Romani-Romanian lăutari from the town of Clejani, the most prominent such group in Romania in the post-Communist Era. In the Western world it it has become known by way of French-speaking areas, where they are known as "Taraf de...
(a.k.a. Taraf de Haïdouks) and members of the group Mahala Raï Banda
Mahala Rai Banda
Mahala Rai Banda is a gypsy band based in Bucharest . It was formed by violinist and composer Aurel Ionitsa, who originally comes from a family of lautari from the village of Clejani. He is related to several members of Taraf de Haïdouks...
.