Tag Archives: Music

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Santo Spinelli in NYC

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Santo Spinelli in NYC

On the occasion of International Holocaust Remembrance Day, the Concert for the Day of Remembrance / Samudaripen, promoted and organized by the Union of Romani Communities in Italy (UCRI), will be held on February 2 at 8:00 p.m. at Carnegie Hall in New York. The event, organized with the patronage and support of the Italian Cultural Institute in New York, UNAR at Palazzo Chigi, and the major European Roma and Sinti organizations—ERGO Network, ERIAC, and IRU—is intended to contribute to the recognition of Samudaripen, the genocide of the Roma people during World War II, alongside the Holocaust, through the universal language of music. The concert features two internationally renowned artists, Gennaro Spinelli, violin soloist, and Santino Spinelli, accordion soloist, accompanied by members of the European Peace Orchestra. This ethno-symphonic project combines revisited classical repertoire and traditional Romani music, along with several original compositions, offering a musical journey of strong symbolic and cultural value.

News Eastern Europe Poland

Poland and a Wedding

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Poland and a Wedding

The buzz surrounding the high-profile “wedding” of Viki Gabor a singer and Romni doesn’t cease., According to the news,  she became the wife of  Giovanni Trojanek  “according to Roma tradition”. Fans of the artist were shocked, and well-known celebrities and showbiz figures are being asked for their opinions. In a recent interview, Anna Popek added her two cents. The presenter stated that 18 “is a great age to get married.” “There are certain standards, and then there are these poor, unhappy, outdated brides in their thirties who can’t find a man,” she blurted out.

Croatia News Eastern Europe

Roma Street Music

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Roma Street Music

Still more articles on the interdiction of Roma street musicians in some Croatian cities. From Osijek to Sinj, police and local authorities have taken action to expel Roma musicians from public spaces during the holiday season. Is this, as Dubrovnik Mayor Mato Franković insists, just a communal problem (which is being solved quite selectively) or a new front in the culture wars that we have apparently brought into the new year, analised with sociologist Krešimir Krol.

Croatia News Eastern Europe

Street Musicians and Politics

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Street Musicians and Politics

Veljko Kajtazi, the president of the Kali Sara Roma Organisation, reacted to the incident that took place on Christmas Eve in Sinj, where Roma trumpeters were removed from the city square after Mayor Miro Bulj stated that their music was not appropriate for the Christmas atmosphere. Kajtazi said that he believed that Bulj had no intention of insulting the Roma community, but he stressed that it is important to remind people of the fact that Roma are part of Croatian society and its tradition.

“The Roma in Croatia are mostly Catholics, regularly participate in religious life and make pilgrimages to Marian shrines, especially in Marija Bistrica. They also made a significant contribution to the Homeland War,” Kajtazi emphasized.

Speaking about music, he added that Roma musicians have a rich repertoire and that, in addition to traditional Roma songs, they also perform Christmas songs. “My Roma can play ‘Jingle Bells’ and ‘Ederlezi’, especially when they are hired,” he said.

Croatia News Eastern Europe

Street Music in Croatia

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Street Music in Croatia

While in European cities street music is considered part of urban culture and a meeting of different traditions, the debate about banning Roma musicians has reopened in Croatia. In a statement to the Novosti portal, the President of the Roma Association in the Republic of Croatia Suzana Krčmar warns that this does not only call into question playing on the street, but also the acceptance of cultural diversity. She raises the question of whether the ban applies to all street musicians or only to Roma, since foreign and domestic popular music is performed without any problems in the cities.

The article continues by saying that Suzana Krčmar avoided emphasizing that the Roma who played or tried to play in Croatian cities are citizens of Serbia.

Bad.

News Eastern Europe Poland

Viki Gabor

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Viki Gabor

Viki Gabor, one of the most popular Polish singers of the younger generation, may be married which created a frenzy of articles and social media post. She did not say it, but apparently the lyrics of her songs suggest otherwise – she addresses her beloved directly and alludes to Roma wedding traditions.

News Eastern Europe Slovenia

Music ban …

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Music ban …

A few days ago, the Ljubljana City Council, at the suggestion of Mayor Zoran Janković, voted to ban spontaneous street musical performances until the end of December. This removed the trumpeters from the streets, who were the main target of the decision.

Czech Republic News Eastern Europe Slovakia

Czechia, Slovakia, and Christmas

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Czechia, Slovakia, and Christmas

The well-known Roma musician Gejza Horváth can tell you at length how they celebrated Christmas. He was born in 1948 in Písečná in the Šumpersk region, but spent his childhood in the settlement of Kolinovce near the Slovak town of Krompachy. He comes from a musical family and was already playing with the biggest bands in Slovakia at the age of twelve. So he was definitely not bored at Christmas. In Gejza Horváth’s childhood, Roma would go around the village to play carols for the gádže

Croatia News Eastern Europe

Roma, Music, and a Mayor

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Roma, Music, and a Mayor

A huge number of articles in the Croatian press about the mayor of the town of Sinj, Miro Bulj who removed removed the Roma orchestra from the public space on Christmas Eve, even though they played the since years at Christmas. The mayor explained that they were singing “Đurđevdan”, and that it was inappropriate for Christmas Eve, and that anyhow, they were not authorised to play in public. A video contradict this, as it shows him gesturing towards the musicians to leave.

Prior to that, the orchestra played among the gathered citizens, without any visible incident.

Well, depending how you pronounce this mayor’s name, it means an ass in Romanes.

Czech Republic News Eastern Europe News Western Europe Spain

Sally Cortes

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Sally Cortes

“The first step must be taken by oneself – to believe that one can achieve everything one dreams of,” says Romani writer and activist Sally Cortés in an interview.

News Eastern Europe Slovenia

Roma Voices

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Roma Voices

An article on the Roma music group Romano Glauso from the Roma settlement of Pušča near Murska Sobota, which according to the article, not only enriches the musical landscape, but also actively builds intercultural dialogue with a modern interpretation of tradition and contributes to greater understanding and coexistence in society.

News Eastern Europe Serbia

Musician and Weddings

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Musician and Weddings

Singer Nikola Ajdinović is among the most sought-after singers at Roma weddings, and now he shocked by admitting that his colleagues steal the tips they receive from guests at the celebrations where they sing. – There are usually a lot of us singers, but I have to say that I do most of the work. I sing almost the entire evening. That’s true, whether some people like it or not. It’s not hard for me, I love gigs and parties, but it’s not always easy – says the singer.

Czech Republic News Eastern Europe

Czechia: Choir

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Czechia: Choir

More than three dozen Roma children from Ostrava have had their first rehearsal of a new choir. This is the only regional branch of the well-known choir Čhavorenge under the direction of singer and choirmaster Ida Kelarová. They will rehearse regularly and hope that it will change their lives.

Hungary News Eastern Europe Serbia

Budapest Symphony Orchestra

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Budapest Symphony Orchestra

The idea for the Budapest Roma Symphony Orchestra, known as the legendary “100 Violins” orchestra, was born in 1984, at the funeral of the famous Hungarian soloist Sándor Jarók Sr. That day, hundreds of Roma musicians from all over Hungary gathered to pay their last respects, and from that emotional moment of togetherness came the idea to found an orchestra that would preserve the spirit of the Roma musical tradition.

A year later, in 1985, the visionary László Berky and his associates founded the orchestra that would become a symbol of the Roma artistic soul and the cultural heritage of Hungary. Today, almost four decades later, the “100 Violins” orchestra continues to travel the world, bringing audiences music that transcends the boundaries of languages, nations, and styles.

News Eastern Europe Russia

Alexander “Sacha” Kolpakov

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Alexander “Sacha” Kolpakov

The best Russian Roma 7-String guitars musician, a composer of many songs, a teacher, a father, a friend, passed away yesterday. With him, some of the traditional Romani music from Russia also passed away. From a Servi family from Saratov, he moved to Moscow where he played for a long time in the Theatre Romen. He was internationally known with tours in the US, but mostly for his participation in Madonna’s Sweet and Sticky tour which saw Madonna sing in Romanes.

May he rest in peace and continue to play in the after world.

Te Javel I phuv lokhi, i leskiro drom puterdo.

 

Sacha Kolpakov
Czech Republic News Eastern Europe

Successful Singer

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Successful Singer

“I believe that success is not about skin colour, but about work, talent and attitude,” says Romani singer Štefan Pecha, who breaks stereotypes and brings authenticity to the stage.

The singer with a distinctive voice and unmistakable energy is not afraid to connect tradition with modern music in his work. In the interview, he speaks openly about his Roma roots, the search for authenticity and what it is like to follow your own path on the Czech music scene.

Lithuania News Eastern Europe

Gypsy Fest

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Gypsy Fest

This year’s “Gypsy Fest” was an attempt to bring awareness to the Roma culture and customs. A colourful parade passed through the centre of Vilnius. One of the festival’s highlights was a Roma village with traditional dishes and handicrafts. A fashion show and a free concert also took place.

Lithuania News Eastern Europe

Vilnius: Festival

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Vilnius: Festival

The two-day “Gypsy Fest 2025” festival dedicated to Roma culture kicked off in Vilnius on Friday. The program includes a colorful parade, a fashion show, traditional food tastings, and Roma music concerts.

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