'Roma and Gypsies from the Village of
Gratia, Teleorman'
Various Artists
(ETHCD008)
Musicians:
Various instruments including:
violin, cymbalom, accordion etc.
Label - Ethnophonie, Romania
Released 2004
32 page booklet in Romanian and English containing photos
and details on
the music and musicians.
'Two categories of Gypsies live in the village of Gratia in the Danube Plains: bear leaders/ursari, and musicians. The former settled here after the war; they live on the outskirts, speak Romanesh, call themselves Roma, and sing vocal music in the family, accompanied by spoons, pebbles and makeshift drums. Their dominant musical genres are the manea and turceasca - i.e. "the Turkish".
The latter have been living in the village for a long time, in houses strewn among the Romanians' (to whom they often become related); they do not speak Romanesh, call themselves Gypsies, and play for themselves the same music as for the Romanians who hire them at parties. Their dominant musical genres are dance tunes, love songs, and epic songs.
Each group is altogether indifferent to the other's music.
The Gypsies avoid close relations to the Roma. The latter feel offended by the Gypsies' coldness but admit that, the consciousness of belonging to the same ethnic group aside, nothing special brings them together.
The Roma and Gypsy communities of Gratia are two parallel lines from Euclidian geometry. Through music, the former mark their distinct identity, whereas the latter express their almost complete integration in Romanian society.
The state of affairs depicted here – and reflected on the CD Roma and Gypsies…- allows one conclusive remark: the consciousness of belonging to the same ethnic group does not necessarily act as a social binder.
The two musics are brilliantly played and sung by Napoleon Constantin – who just became the star of the festival „Les Orientales” in France – and a group of musicians whose style is much closed to that of the famous musicians of „le taraf des haidouks”, their relatives, neighbors and friends from Clejani village.'
'Roma and Gypsies from the Village of
Gratia, Teleorman'
Various Artists
(ETHCD008)
This symbol
indicates an mp3 sound clip for that track.
Click on the symbol and wait for the clip to start.
For more information click
here.
Tracks
I. Roma...
1. Gypsy song for listening (9'01")
2. Gypsy song for listening (excerpt) (1'20")
3. Suite of 'Spanish Gypsy' dances (6'05")
4. Suite of 'goldsmiths', 'tinsmiths and bear leaders' dances
(7'10")
5. Suite of 'Turkish' dances (7'43")
II. ...and Gypsies
6. Epic song: Radu lu' Anghel din Greci (4'28")
7. Dance melodies: cadin cimpoi, Ca din caval (1'26")
8. Love song: Tot iubind prin Teleorman (2'56")
9. Dance melody: Murguletul (1'16")
10. Love song: Da-mi Doamne si nu-mi da mult (10'12")
11. Dance melody: Braul (1'37")
12. Wedding song: Cantecul bradului (5'04")
13. Wedding dance: Hora bradului (1'10")
14. Song: Di di di murgule di (2'58")
15. Love song: Cuculetul (6'22")
Duration (69'35")
Our mp3 samples are approximately 30 seconds long
and of low(ish) quality for a fast download
(file size app 300KB)