Dada East: The Romanians of Cabaret Voltaire (The MIT Press)

Dada -- perhaps the most famous and outrageous of modernism's artistic movements -- is said to have begun at the Cabaret Voltaire, a literary evening staged at the restaurant Meierei in Zurich on February 5, 1916. The evening featured stamping, roaring, banging on the lids of pots and pans, and the recitation of incomprehensible "poemes simultanes" Thus a global revolution in art and culture was born in a Swiss restaurant. Or was it?In Dada East, Tom Sandqvist shows that Dada did not spring full-grown from a Zurich literary salon but grew out of an already vibrant artistic tradition in Eastern Europe -- particularly Romania -- that was transposed to Switzerland when a group of Romanian modernists settled in Zurich. Bucharest and other cities in Romania had been the scene of Dada-like poetry, prose, and spectacle in the years before World War I. One of the leading lights was Tristan Tzara, who began his career in avant-garde literature at fifteen when he cofounded the magazine Simbolul. Tzara -- who himself coined the term "Dada," inspired by an obscure connection of his birthday to an Orthodox saint -- was at the Cabaret Voltaire that night, along with fellow Romanians Marcel, Jules, and Georges Janco and Arthur Segal. It's not a coincidence, Sandqvist argues, that so many of the first dadaist group were Romanians. Sandqvist traces the artistic and personal transformations that took place in the "little Paris of the Balkans" before they took center stage elsewhere, finding sources as varied as symbolism, futurism, and folklore. He points to a connection between Romanian modernists and the Eastern European Yiddish tradition; Tzara, the Janco brothers, and Segal all grew up within Jewish culture and traditions.For years, the communist authorities in Romania disowned and disavowed Romania's avant-garde movements. Now, as archives and libraries are opening to Western scholars, Tom Sandqvist tells the secret history of Dada's Romanian roots. The secret history of Dada's Romanian roots; how Tristan Tzara, Marcel, Jules, and Georges Janco, and Arthur Segal influenced the most famous and outrageous modernist movement. Dadaperhaps the most famous and outrageous of modernism's artistic movementsis said to have begun at the Cabaret Voltaire, a literary evening staged at the restaurant Meierei in Zurich on February 5, 1916. The evening featured stamping, roaring, banging on the lids of pots and pans, and the recitation of incomprehensible "poemes simultanes." Thus a global revolution in art and culture was born in a Swiss restaurant. Or was it? In Dada East , Tom Sandqvist shows that Dada did not spring full-grown from a Zurich literary salon but grew out of an already vibrant artistic tradition in Eastern Europeparticularly Romaniathat was transposed to Switzerland when a group of Romanian modernists settled in Zurich. Bucharest and other cities in Romania had been the scene of Dada-like poetry, prose, and spectacle in the years before World War I. One of the leading lights was Tristan Tzara, who began his career in avant-garde literature at fifteen when he cofounded the magazine Simbolul. Tzarawho himself coined the term "Dada," inspired by an obscure connection of his birthday to an Orthodox saintwas at the Cabaret Voltaire that night, along with fellow Romanians Marcel, Jules, and Georges Janco and Arthur Segal. It's not a coincidence, Sandqvist argues, that so many of the first dadaist group were Romanians. Sandqvist traces the artistic and personal transformations that took place in the "little Paris of the Balkans" before they took center stage elsewhere, finding sources as varied as symbolism, futurism, and folklore. He points to a connection between Romanian modernists and the Eastern European Yiddish tradition; Tzara, the Janco brothers, and Segal all grew up within Jewish culture and traditions. For years, the communist authorities in Romania disowned and disavowed Romania's avant-garde movements. Now, as archives and libraries are opening to Western scholars, Tom Sandqvist tells the secret history of Dada's Romanian roots. In Dada East Tom Sandqvist Shows That Dada Did Not Spring Full-grown From A Zurich Literary Salon But Grew Out Of An Already Vibrant Artistic Tradition In Eastern Europe - Particularly Romania - That Was Transposed To Switzerland When A Group Of Romanian Modernists Settled In Zurich. Bucharest And Other Cities In Romania Had Been The Scene Of Dada-like Poetry, Prose, And Spectacle In The Years Before World War I. One Of The Leading Lights Was Tristan Tzara, Who Begn His Career In Avant-garde Literature At Fifteen When He Cofounded The Magazine Simbolul. Tzara - Who Himself Coined The Term Dada, Inspired By An Obscure Connection Of His Birthday To An Orthodox Saint - Was At The Cabaret Voltaire That Night, Along With Fellow Romanians Marcel, Jules, And Georges Janco And Arthur Segal. It's Not A Coincidence, Sandqvist Argues, That So Many Of The First Dadaist Group Was Romanians. Sandqvist Traces The Artistic And Personal Transformations That Took Place In The Little Paris Of The Balkans Before They Took Center Stage Elsewhere, Finding Sources As Varied As Symbolism, Futurism, And Folklore. He Points To A Connection Between Romanian Modernists And The Eastern European Yiddish Tradition; Tzara, The Janco Brothers, And Segal All Grew Up Within Jewish Culture And Traditions. For Years, The Communist Authorities In Romania Disowned And Disavowed Romania's Avant-garde Movements. Now, As Archives And Libraries Are Opening To Western Scholars, Tom Sandqvist Tells The Secret History Of Dada's Romanian Roots.--jacket. 2 In Romania And Switzerland 15 -- 3 In Central And Eastern Europe 45 -- 4 Marcel Iancu Becomes Marcel Janco 65 -- 5 Little Paris Of The Balkans 101 -- 6 Samuel Rosenstock Becomes Tristan Tzara 123 -- 7 The Symbolist And Dadaist From Moinesti 141 -- 8 Aron Sigalu Becomes Arthur Segal 171 -- 9 Symbolists, Absurdists, And Futurists 195 -- 10 In The Romanian Village 247 -- 11 In Yiddishland 271 -- 12 Ex Oriente Dada 289 -- 13 Back In Bucharest 339. Tom Sandqvist. Includes Bibliographical References (p. 393-423) And Index. 1 Introduction 8 2 In Romania and Switzerland 22 3 In Central and Eastern Europe 52 4 Marcel Iancu becomes Marcel Janco 72 5 Little Paris of the Balkans 108 6 Samuel Rosenstock becomes Tristan Tzara 130 7 The Symbolist and Dadaist from Moinesti 148 8 Aron Sigalu becomes Arthur Segal 178 9 Symbolists, Absurdists, and Futurists 202 10 In the Romanian Village 270 11 In Yiddishland 294 12 Ex Oriente Dada 312 13 Back in Bucharest 362 Selected Chronology 404 Notes 416 Index 448 In Romania and Switzerland In Central and Eastern Europe Marcel Iancu becomes Marcel Janco Little Paris of the Balkans Samuel Rosenstock becomes Tristan Tzara The symbolist and dadaist from Moineşti Aron Sigalu becomes Arthur Segal Symbolists, Absurdists, and Futurists In the Romanian village In Yiddishland Ex oriente dada Back in Bucharest.