Rough Guide: Music of the Gypsies

Amazon.com
You're probably familiar with the flamenco fireworks of Spain's bestselling Gipsy Kings. But there are nearly as many types of Gypsy music as there are countries in which the Gypsies--or Roma--have settled since dispersing from Rajasthan, India, more than a thousand years ago. The highlights of this nicely documented compilation include Romania's Fanfare Ciocarlia, a brass band that plays a sort of speed klezmer at dizzying tempos; the Rajasthan ensemble Musafir, who weave serpentine melodies on the dumbek drum and flute; the warm clarinet and accordions of Italy's Acquaragia Drom; and the richly arranged 12-piece Taraf de Haidouks, also from Romania. What else? Sad, folk-singing British Gypsies (Jasper and Levi Smith), elegant and haunting Greek Gypsies (Eleni Vitali, Kostas Pavlidis), and Hungary's raucous and jazzy Kalman Balogh. And the diversity of the flamenco Gypsies is of course amply demonstrated by Pata Negra, Tomatito, and the duo of El Indio Gitano and Gerardo Nunez. --Richard Gehr

From Rhythm Magazine
I have yet to be disappointed by any collection in the Rough Guide series, and The Rough Guide to the Music of the Gypsies is no exception. Once again, the compilers help us explore the world from our living rooms, this time by putting together an impressive mix of Roma music, following the Gypsy trail from India to Turkey to Hungary to Spain.The music of the Gypsies incorporates many of the instruments and folk traditions of the lands they have resided in, while maintaining a distinctive Roma flavor. This CD offers a wonderful overview of various Gypsy styles, which are as different from each other as classical is from rock. The album includes such celebrated groups as Musafir and Taraf de Haodouks, but there are also such delightful lesser-known performers as Eleni Vitali (on "Song of the Gypsies") and the emotionally intense Kostas Pavlidis (on "Jastar Amenge Dur").

Tracks:

Yo Me Quedo En Sevilla - Pata Negra
Ussa Sa - Acquaragia Drom
Doina Si Balaseanca - Fanfare Ciocarlia
The Song Of The Gypsies - Eleni Vitali
Anghuti - Musafir
Rast Tsiftetelli - Gyspy Music Of Constantinople
Love Birds - Kurbeti
Cind Eram La '48 - Taraf De Haidouks
Jastar Amenge Dur - Kostas Pavlidis
Mundi - Tomatito
El Sereno De Mi Calle - El Indio Gitano/Gerardo Nunez
Olen Lapsi Mina Syksyjen Illan - Paivi Arling
Cock O' The North/Garryowen/Flowers Of Edinburgh/Step It Away/The Girl I Left Behind/Step It Away - Jasper/Levi Smith
Fast Csardas - The Hungarian Gypsy Orchestra Of Jozsef Lacatos
Kalandxoj - Krusha Madhe
Cigany Szinek - Kalman Balogh

Amazon.com

You're probably familiar with the flamenco fireworks of Spain's bestselling Gipsy Kings. But there are nearly as many types of Gypsy music as there are countries in which the Gypsies--or Roma--have settled since dispersing from Rajasthan, India, more than a thousand years ago. The highlights of this nicely documented compilation include Romania's Fanfare Ciocarlia, a brass band that plays a sort of speed klezmer at dizzying tempos; the Rajasthan ensemble Musafir, who weave serpentine melodies on the dumbek drum and flute; the warm clarinet and accordions of Italy's Acquaragia Drom; and the richly arranged 12-piece Taraf de Haidouks, also from Romania. What else? Sad, folk-singing British Gypsies (Jasper and Levi Smith), elegant and haunting Greek Gypsies (Eleni Vitali, Kostas Pavlidis), and Hungary's raucous and jazzy Kalman Balogh. And the diversity of the flamenco Gypsies is of course amply demonstrated by Pata Negra, Tomatito, and the duo of El Indio Gitano and Gerardo Nunez. --Richard Gehr

Customer Reviews:

Good, but there are better.......2002-07-07

This CD is a good collection of genuine gypsy music, but I have heard better. Gypsy Caravan by Putumayo is more accessible for the general public in my opinion. Another absolutely fantastic collection of Gypsy music can be found in the CD Latcho Drom. This CD is actually a soundtrack to a brilliant and beautiful documentary of that same name, and I would recommend anyone who is even remotely interested in gypsy music to see it. It is absolutely stunning!!

Incredible! Impressive! Irresistable!.......2002-05-10

This tapestry of *irresistible* gypsy music from Spain, Italy, Greece, Turkey, the Balkans (Kosovo, Macedonia), Rajasthan (India), Hungary, Romania, England and as far north as Finland, is woven into a timeless, seamless whole! Most *impressive* is the root sound that essentially remains unaltered no matter from which country the music arises. The improvisations and embellishments are indefinable and original spanning many centuries and musical styles. However, it is interesing to see that Finnish gypsy rhythm & melody is similar to that of Italy, Hungary, and Romania. Also, Balkan gypsy music by Madhe Krushe has strong influences of the traditional instruments played in Bulgaria, Macedonia, & Kosovo. The raw firey vocals of the Spanish gypsies unearth a vitality and dynamism no other singers emulate. The Greek gypsies express deep haunting passion and emotions, as only those of Meditarranean extraction can do ... Taraf de Haidouks & Kalman Balogh are world reknown Central European musicians, their music is synonomous with the culture and traditions of Romania and Hungary respectively. Rough Guide provides the greatest diversity of gypsy music I have yet enountered in any one CD! They cover Eastern and Western Europe, the Balkans, a bit of Asia, & most surprisingly Finland, too! This is an *incredible* *not* *to* *be* *missed* CD!!! BUY IT!!!
Erika Borsos (erikab93)

correction.......2002-04-10

I would like to offer a correction to the first editorial review given for this album. The Gypsy Kings are not from Spain, they are from Southern France.

Entrancing and pure.......1999-11-06

An excellent musical montage from around the world, this album is both a contemporary look into the passion of the Gypsy soul and an historical view of the traditions of these nomadic, intense and complex people. If you are interested in taking your emotional pulse, this CD is just what the doctor ordered.

Excellent.......1999-09-28

A superb collection of gypsy music from around the world. Having listened to it you will want to further explore this fascinating culture and its music.

The Rough Guide to the Music of Balkan Gypsies

Average customer rating:

The Rough Guide to the Music of Balkan Gypsies
Various Artists
Manufacturer: World Music Network
ProductGroup: Music
Binding: Audio CD

General | International | Styles | Music

Balkan Beat Box
The Rough Guide to the Music of the Sahara
The Rough Guide to the Music of the Balkans
The Rough Guide to the Music of Central Asia
Rough Guide: Music of the Gypsies

ASIN: B000A5EMKE
Release Date: 2005-08-15

Tracks:

Mahalageasca - Mahala Rai Banda
Cintec De Dragoste Si Joc - Taraf De Haidouks
Mundo Cocek - Boban Markovic Orkestar
Lenorije Chaje - Ivo Papasov
Di, Murgule, Di - Nikolae Simion
Opa Cupa - Saban Bajramovic
Lume, Lume - Fanfare Ciocarlia
Pranvera - Vangelis Vasiliou
Romano Oro - Esma Redzepova
To Tsantiraki - Eleni Vitali
Espresso - Taraf De Metropulitana
Felix Kolo - Boban Markovic Orkestar
Kadife - Omar Faruk Tekbilek
Taraf - Shukar Collective
Sofyisky Kjuchek - Ibro Lolov
Rom - Nikos Kypourgos
Tsiganka Sam Mala - Vera Petrovic

Album Description

The Gypsy Road stretches from Rajasthan, India to Andalucia, Spain and beyond, but it is the Balkan countries of Eastern Europe that are home to the largest Rom populations. Often scape-goated and caught in the middle of the twentieth century's worst injustices, from Belgrade to Bucharest to Skopje the Rom have had a profound impact on Balkan culture and music. Throughout the region, Gypsy music is Balkan music, transcending borders and ethnicities: energetic brass bands, violin and cimbolom virtuosos and captivating voices, The Rough Guide To The Music Of Balkan Gypsies has it all.

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