The Mureş superior region follows the Mureş river from the Transylvanian plain to its source in the eastern Carpathian mountains. There is very little archaeology in this area which suggests that this part of the Mureş valley was not an area which has been widely occupied by past civilisations.
The town of Reghin, at the lower part of this region, was previously Saxon and Hungarian.and has existed from at least the 13th century. To the south of Reghin the villages are mixed Hungarian, Romanian, Gypsy and Saxon, to the east is the Romanian Gurghiului region and to the north the Mureş superior egion becomes predominantly Romanian.
High in the upper reaches of the Mureş, in the Carpathians is the Hungarian sub-zone of Gheogheni. The town was already established by 1332 and became prosperous during the 17th century. Although this town has a Szekely history and Hungarians in this region are now not Székely but from central Transylvania and live mainly in the villages along the main road from Reghin: Alunis, Vălenii de Mureş, Lunca Mureşului, Brâncovenestim and Suseni.
Dances
The Romanian dances are a mix of the old line dances found either side of the Carpathians, plus the Transylvanian plain repertoire of couple dances and men's dances, together with some of Germanic origin. The Hungarian dances are the typical turning dances.
Line dances
plopişul, alunelu, sârba, ceasul
| Balkan 3 measure | 4 measure Hora | uni-directional | bi-directional | in place |
| brâu | raţa |
Men's dances
| Ritual dances | Brâul | Group men's dances | Lad's dances | Verbunc |
| căluşeriul | de-a bota | bărbunc |
Couple dances
| Processional
walking dance |
Turning dances | Column dances | Csardas |
Germanic &
central European |
Others |
| de-a lungu (rhythm ~10/16) | învârtita Hungarian forduló, szapora/sebes Ţigăneşte (slow turning dance) |
de doi mureşanca şepţeţâtă |
Music
This region had tarafs of both Hungarian and Romanian gypsies serving the these communities. Typical instrumentation was the typical Transylvanian string band of one to two violins with a contra (flat bridged viola tuned g-d' a). The large cimbalom was introduced primarily into the tarafs serving the Romanian communities.
Costume
Women's costume
| Shirt | Aprons/skirt | Headwear | Belt | Overgarments |
Men's costume
| Shirt | Trousers | Headwear | Belt | Overgarments |
References
Secoşan, E (1979), Portul popular românesc, Portul popular din judeţul Harghita, Central Judeţean, Miercurea-Ciuc
Discography
Original village music from the upper Mureş region - István Pávai FONO 106-2
Jocuri populare Româneşti - Jocuri din Mureş Electrecord ST-EPE 01681
Ion Fărcaş - fluiere - Electrecord ST-EPE 03725
Ansamblul folcloric Transylvania din Târgu Mureş - Electrecord ST-EPE 03727