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Gypsy music is highly varied among the diverse communities of the Roma (aka Gypsies). By far the most popular form of Gypsy music among outsiders is flamenco, which developed in the Spanish Gypsy community. In all the places Gypsies live, in Europe, North
Africa, the Middle East and northwest India, they have become known as musicians. Typically nomadic, Gypsies have long acted as
wandering entertainers and tradesmen. The wide distances travelled have introduced a multitude of influences, using Indian roots and adding Arab, Persian, Slavic, German, French, Spanish and
Celtic flourishes.
Gypsy music characteristically has high pitch notes and melodies that outsing the harmonies. Vocals tend to be soulful and declamatory, and the music often produces an exaggerated slide
between notes. Instrumentation varies widely, but shawm and drum duos are common across the Gypsies' range.
Though no conclusive proof has been found, most historians believe that Gypsies are descended from an Indian people and
migrated westward in several waves, probably all before 1000 AD. Gypsies still live in
India, however, in Rajasthan and other areas, and work in multiple castes. These include the puppeteer Bhat, snake charmer Sapera and
juggler Kamad castes, as well as Bhopa,
Langa and Manganiyar musicians. Rajasthani Gypsy instruments include the kamayacha, a sort of fiddle, and khartal, a
kind of castanets.
Gypsies moved west from India, spreading throughout what is now Iran, Iraq, Armenia and other Middle Eastern countries. By
1050, Gypsies are believed to have been playing music in Constantinople. By the end of the 15th century,
Gypsies lived in Bulgaria, Egypt, Romania, Hungary, Sudan, Greece and Serbia. From
there, they have spread to the remainder of Europe, and now exist in small numbers abroad.
Gypsy communities are common in Arab and Middle Eastern countries, but are often found in southern parts of India as well. There is a strong tradition of Gypsy music in Central and Eastern Europe, notably in countries such as Hungary, Romania and the former Yugoslavia. The quintessentially Spanish flamenco is the music (and dance, or indeed the culture) of the Gypsies of
Andalusia.
Macedonia and Albania
Macedonian and Albanian Gypsies play Greek koumpaneia most frequently, with the Macedonian style distinctively known as calgia. Macedonian Gypsy music has been popularized
by Goran Bregovic's "Ederlezi" from the soundtrack to Emir Kusturica's The Time of the
Gypsies, which was shot in a Macedonian Gypsy community.
Russia
Gypsies have played a major part of Russian musical development since the reign of Catherine the Great. Their music became a romantic, urban form in the 19th century and thrived until the 1917 revolution. The Bolsheviks persecuted Gypsies as former entertainers of the bourgeoisie, and many chose
to leave to country. Several legendary performers emerged from this period, especially Jean Goulesco and Pyotr Leschenko.
Hungary
Hungary has a long and famous history of Gypsy musicians, with Janos Bihari being the most well-known of the traditional orchestra leaders. The Lakatos family now dominates the music.
Rural Hungarian Gypsies play a sparsely accompanied form of song called loki djili and dance songs called khelimaski djili.
Greece
Gypsies in Greece are known for the zurna and davul duos (analogous to the shawm and drum) partnership common in
Gypsy music) and Turkish-influenced koumpaneia music. Koumpaneia has long been popular among Greek Gypsies and Jews (the latter being some of the
most popular performers before World War 2), especially in the city of
Ioannina, and has recently been popularized by artists like Kostas Pavlidis and Yianni Saleas.
France
French Gypsies are known for rumba
gitana, a form of Catalonian-derived genre which was popularized by The Gipsy Kings. Django Reinhardt, a French Gypsy, was one of the most influential of jazz players.
Romania
Romanian Gypsy musicians are called lautari, and typically form stringle bands
called taraf. Tarafs include fiddles, cimbaloms, accordions and a double bass, and are common throughout the country. The most popular is Taraf de Haidouks, who have gained an international following.
Turkey
Gypsies perform in nightclubs and restaurants across Turkey, and are known for fasil and belly dance music. Fasil is a sort of light classical music, dominated by the clarinet, violin, kanun (a zither), darbuka (drums) and, more rarely, ud (a
lute) and cümbüş (a banjo). Turkish Gypsy performers
include the Erköse brothers and Mustafa Kandirali.
Spain
Spanish Gypsy music is widely known across the world, having been popularized as flamenco. Flamenco was born in Andalucia and was only linked with
Gypsies sometime after the genre evolved.
References
- Broughton, Simon. "Kings and Queens of the Road". 2000. In Broughton, Simon and Ellingham, Mark with McConnachie, James and
Duane, Orla (Ed.), World Music, Vol. 1: Africa, Europe and the Middle East, pp 146-158. Rough Guides Ltd, Penguin Books.
ISBN 1-85828-636-0
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