Simion Stanciu (23 December 1949 - 6 July 2010), also known by his stage-name Syrinx, was a Romanian Pan flute player and

composer A composer is a person who writes music. The term is especially used to indicate composers of Western classical music, or those who are composers by occupation. Many composers are, or were, also skilled performers of music. Etymology and Defi ...

, who lived and worked in

Switzerland ). Swiss law does not designate a ''capital'' as such, but the federal parliament and government are installed in Bern, while other federal institutions, such as the federal courts, are in other cities (Bellinzona, Lausanne, Luzern, Neuchâtel ...

. Simion Stanciu was born in Bucharest, Romania, into a musical family. His father was a cellist, and his brothers were also instrumentalists. He registered at the Bucharest conservatory, initially studying the violin, but from 14 years of age onwards, he increasingly concentrated on playing the pan pipes. Due to his education in classical music, he was able to make a new repertory accessible for this instrument, which hitherto was only significant in the folk music traditions of various countries and in popular music. He chose his stage name, which not only signifies the nymph

Syrinx In classical Greek mythology, Syrinx (Greek Σύριγξ) was a nymph and a follower of Artemis, known for her chastity. Pursued by the amorous god Pan, she ran to a river's edge and asked for assistance from the river nymphs. In answer, sh ...

in ancient Greek mythology, but also the Pan flute itself. The range of Stanciu's repertoire included Baroque and Classical instrumental concerts ( Vivaldi, Bach,

Mozart Wolfgang Amadeus Mozart (27 January 17565 December 1791), baptised as Joannes Chrysostomus Wolfgangus Theophilus Mozart, was a prolific and influential composer of the Classical period (music), Classical period. Despite his short life, his ra ...

etc.) adapted for the Pan flute, collaborations with rock music artists like Patrick Moraz, as well as recordings in the fields of Jazz and light music. He also performed the soundtrack recording for the film '' Quest for Fire''. Among his recordings : ''Syrinx plays Bach, Mozart, Quantz'', with Armin Jordan (conductor) and the Orchestre de chambre de Lausanne, 1985 (Erato NUM 75187). Stanciu founded the Pan flute school ''Akademie Syrinx''. He died aged 60 in Geneva,

, after a protracted illness.

External links

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Official Website
(German/French)

1943 births 2010 deaths Classical flautists Folk flautists Panpipes Romanian composers Romanian musicians {{Romania-composer-stub