Sokolovsky gypsy choir

The Sokolovsky gypsy choir (Russian "Соколовский хор") was founded by Count Orlov-Chesmensky in the 1770s who called on Ivan Sokolov, leader of the Roma among his serfs, to perform at his estate outside Moscow.[1] The enslaved Roma people were granted their freedom in 1807, and Sokolov became the first in a dynasty of Roma choir leaders. The choir performed at the prestigious Yar restaurant in Moscow ("Соколовский хор у Яра"). When his descendant Grigory Sokolov died leadership passed to Nikolai Shishkin.[2]

  1. ^ Tolstoy: A Russian Life Rosamund Bartlett - 2010 "The first Russian gypsy choir was formed in the 1770s by Count Orlov-Chesmensky, who brought together some of his gypsyserfs from the family of Ivan Sokolov ..
  2. ^ ЛЕГЕНДА О СОКОЛОВСКОЙ ГИТАРЕ (старинная цыганская легенда) (По книге "Сказки и песни, рожденные в дороге: цыганский фольклор", составители: Е. Друц и А. Гесслер) Главная редакция восточной литературы изд-ва «Наука», г.Москва 1985г.