Romani music

Romani musicians at a wedding in the Czech Republic in 2005
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Romani music (often referred to as gypsy or gipsy music, which is sometimes considered a derogatory term)[1][2][3][4][5][6] is the music of the Romani people who have their origins in northern India but today live mostly in Europe.

Historically nomadic, though now largely settled, the Romani people have long acted as entertainers and tradesmen. In many of the places Romanies live they have become known as musicians. The wide distances travelled have introduced a multitude of influences of: Arabic, Byzantine, French, Germanic, Greek, Hungarian, Indian, Persian, Romanian, Slavic, Spanish, Turkish and Jewish musical forms.[7]

It is difficult to define the parameters of a unified Romani musical style, as there are many differences in melodic, harmonic, rhythmic and formal structures from region to region. Lyrics to Romani songs are often sung in one or more dialects of the Romani language, and dance frequently accompanies Romani music performance.[8]

The quintessentially Spanish flamenco is to a very large extent the music (and dance, or indeed the culture) of the Romani people of Andalusia.[9]

Romani people also perform Hip hop.[10]

  1. ^ Dalzell, Tom (2007). The new Partridge dictionary of slang and unconventional English (Reprint. ed.). London [u.a.]: Routledge. p. 943. ISBN 978-0415259378.
  2. ^ Merriam-Webster's pocket guide to English usage. Springfield, MA: Merriam-Webster. 1998. p. 178. ISBN 0877795142.
  3. ^ Garner, Bryan A. (2009). Garner's modern American usage (3rd ed.). New York: Oxford University Press. p. 405. ISBN 978-0195382754.
  4. ^ Baskin, [by] H.E. Wedeck with the assistance of Wade. Dictionary of gypsy life and lore. New York: Philosophical Library. ISBN 0806529857.
  5. ^ Garner, Bryan A. A dictionary of modern legal usage (3rd ed.). New York: Oxford University Press. p. 400. ISBN 0195384202.
  6. ^ Bolaffi, Guido (2002). Dictionary of race, ethnicity and culture (1. publ., [Nachdr.]. ed.). London: Sage. p. 291. ISBN 0761969004.
  7. ^ PhD, Bruce D. Heald (27 November 2012). Gypsies of the White Mountains: History of a Nomadic Culture. Arcadia Publishing. ISBN 978-1-61423-804-1. Retrieved 4 December 2023 – via Google Books.
  8. ^ "What is Romani music?". Tumblr. Retrieved 8 October 2017.
  9. ^ Sturman, Janet (2019). The SAGE International Encyclopedia of Music and Culture. SAGE Publications. ISBN 978-1-4833-1774-8 – via Google Books.
  10. ^ Sturman, Janet (26 February 2019). The SAGE International Encyclopedia of Music and Culture. SAGE Publications. ISBN 978-1-5063-5337-1.