music that was promoted by the communist regime, Toni Iordache remained known among aficionados especially for his work as a lăutar. His solos were very complex, but also clear and beautiful and his improvisations were full of imagination. He was not only a very virtuoso player (he was measured in Paris to be able to play 25 notes per second), but also a very sophisticated one, with a high emphasis on touch, playing the slow pieces with great sensibility. He was able to play two melodic lines simultaneously at high tempos and knew how to use the full capacities of the cimbalom. Other information The great conductor Sergiu Celibidache embraced him with tears in his eyes after attending one of his shows. Toni Iordache was the one that nicknamed the great Romanian accordionist Ionică Minune (Johnny The Wonder). The great singer Gabi Luncă recounted that they were in a concert during the major 1977 earthquake. Toni Iordache was so concentrated on his solo that he didn't even notice the earthquake. He was described as "pure genius" by Chris Nickson in his review from AllMusic. His son Leonard is also an accomplished cimbalom player. His grandson Bogdan was also studying the cimbalom but died in a highway car accident in July 2011 aged 23. References External links Remember Toni Iordache, Godfather of the cimbalom in Romanian Toni Iordache page at cyrildupuy.com Toni Iordache page at Asphalt Tango Records [ Allmusic review of Sounds from a Bygone Age, Vol. 4] Toni Iordache record review at Passion Discs Another Toni Iordache record review at Passion Discs 1942 births 1988 deaths Romani musicians Romanian musicians Romanian Romani people Lăutari and lăutărească music Cimbalom players