The Academy of Sciences of Moldova is in deep mourning. On June 3rd, the heart of Academician Eugen Doga, an eminent personality of contemporary times, a remarkable composer, and a man of culture, has stopped beating.

The Academy of Sciences of Moldova is in deep mourning. On June 3rd of this year, the heart of Academician Eugen Doga, an eminent contemporary personality, remarkable composer and cultural figure, People’s Artist, Laureate of the State Prize and numerous international awards, Knight of the Order of the Republic, Honorary Doctor of several prestigious universities, an authentic Symbol of Romanian culture and identity, a personality who for over half a century represented us with dignity and brought our fame honorably across the meridians of the world, ceased to beat.

Born on March 1, 1937, in the village of Mocra, today in the Rîbnița district of the Republic of Moldova, which could be said to be on the frontier of civilizations, the future composer-academician experienced in full measure all the adverse twists and turns of the mid-20th century. Tempered by the trials of life and recovering, through character and titanic work, the advantages of his divine gift, Eugen Doga perseveringly and tenaciously ascended towards his Star, Planet Doga, No. 10504, destined in the constellation of the universe by his unmatched Destiny.

From the first chords of the famous masterpiece – The Waltz from the movie The Tender and Gentle Beast – to the music of the Eminescian ballet – The Evening Star – based on the libretto of master Emil Loteanu; from the memorable jewels for children in the movie Maria-Mirabela, in collaboration with poet Grigore Vieru and director Ion Popescu-Gopo, and from the over 100 romances, arias, and lieder composed to the verses of Mihai Eminescu and Veronica Micle, to the exceptional autobiographical novel My Life As It Was Meant to Be – our great Artist-symbol of the national soul, Master Eugen Doga brilliantly demonstrates the qualities of a creative spirit in constant and tireless search of self and gradual embrace of the high consciousness of being Romanian.

A model of creativity, disciplined work, and dedication, His Highness will serve from now on as a bright beacon for many generations, leaving us a vast, impressive, and unmistakable musical and literary legacy that has become part of the national heritage. The academic and artistic community pays its last tribute to our illustrious colleague, friend, and mentor, Acad. Eugen Doga, who left us at the peak of his much-loved homeland, Bessarabia, the Republic of Moldova, which today has firmly chosen the free, prosperous, and peaceful space of the European Community. As a testament to this love, we have been left with his beautiful and testamentary creation: Ode to Europe.

He loved his Transnistrian homeland to tears, he built solid musical bridges to the Bessarabian House, linking his entire life and work to the Romanian Land, for which the endless waltz of master Eugen Doga will echo in Europe and around the world for a long time to come.With deep resignation, we express our condolences to his family, relatives, and all his admirers.

May God rest him in peace!Eternal memory!

Ion Tighineanu, Svetlana Cojocaru, Ion Hadârcă, Eva Gudumac, Liliana Condraticova, Serafim Andrieş, Nicolae Andronati, Vladimir Arnautov, Ernest Arușanov, Grigore Belostecinic, Isaak Bersuker, Ion Bostan, Mihai Cimpoi, Leonid Culiuc, Demir Dragnev, Gheorghe Duca, Maria Duca, Andrei Eşanu, Theodor Furdui, Boris Gaina, Constantin Gaindric, Gheorghe Ghidirim, Stanislav Groppa, Ion Guceac, Aurelian Gulea, Victor Lacusta, Tudor Lupașcu, Victor Moraru, Gheorghe Mustea, Valeriu Pasat, Mihail Popovici, Viorel Prisacari, Alexandru Roșca, Valeriu Rudic, Gheorghe Rusnac, Alexandru Stratan, Anatolie Sidorenko, Alexei Simaşchevici, Gheorghe Şişcanu, Dumitru Țiuleanu, Ion Toderaş, Eremia Zota, Elena Zubcov, Aculina Arîcu, Eugeniu Bendelic, Viorel Bostan, Boris Boincean, Emil Ceban, Liliana Cepoi, Sergiu Certan, Gheorghe Cojocaru, Tudor Cozari, Valeriu Cușnir, Aurelian Dănilă, Valeriu Dulgheru, Dumitru Erhan, Ion Gagim, Ion Geru, Liliana Groppa, Valeriu Fala, Victor Juc, Dumitru Lozovanu, Galina Lupașcu, Fliur Macaev, Valeriu Matei, Ion Mereuță, Mihai Popa, Elena Prus, Dumitru Sofroni, Rodica Sturza, Svetlana Șciuca, Mariana Șlapac, Nicolae Țâu, Boris Ţucherblat, Vladimir Ţurcan, Veaceslav Ursachi, Laurenția Ungureanu, Mihail Vronschih, Nicolae Vulpe, Rodica Ciobanu, Natalia Procop.

Academician Ioan-Aurel POP: Late Tribute

The master Eugen Doga has passed away, the one who loved life and who did not know the word death. In fact, he did not die but has transitioned into immortality. I see nothing unusual in the recognition of his value by the statesmen, in his decoration, in his invitations to concerts, in juries, in the praises brought to him by certain people, whether interested or not. However, I see the unusual in the thrill that his music created, in the flow of the melody like the gentle wave of spring water, in his warm gaze of a generous man, in the spiritual satisfaction that his slow speech brought.

The “Waltz of Love,” recognized by UNESCO, with a touch of Slavic music coming from the endless expanse of the steppe and perhaps with musical waves reminiscent of Shostakovich, has circled the globe. You might say that Iosif Ivanovici from Galați composed the “Waves of the Danube” and did not become famous, nor counted as a great musician. The composer of the “Blue Danube,” Johann Strauss (the son), is by far more known, he is indeed famous and is honored annually through the famous New Year’s concert. Perhaps Ivanovici did not reach the mastery of the Strauss family in his chords, but he touched the souls of Romanians and others as well. How beautifully the boat glides on the waves and how little is known about who steered it through the waters. Yes, but the blame lies with us, Romanians, always grumbling and ungrateful. If it had been about an Austrian and a waltz composed in Vienna, things would have been different.

Eugen Doga was, to the honor of the Moldovan institution, a member of the ‘Academy of Sciences’ in Chișinău. Paradoxically, the Master was not a member of the Romanian Academy, which is why I was often criticized, rightly so. Not because it was my fault: those in the know understand that the president of the Romanian Academy has only one vote at their disposal in the General Assembly, that they cannot, that they must not influence the candidacies, that the proposals first reach the specialized sections and that they cannot proceed further without the vote of at least two-thirds of the members of the respective section. In our section of arts and audiovisual, Master Eugen Doga’s candidacy remained somehow suspended presumably because his music did not meet the ‘height’ of the venerable institution’s expectations.

Opto sit tibi terra levis!

Ioan-Aurel Pop