Gypsy Music Info
Rhythm Divine—harmony and concord of the Gypsies
The word Gypsy, sometimes spelt as gipsy, was initially used in the 16th century in order to classify the Romani people in England. Gypsies are usually associated with traveling As a result of this traveling aspect, there are numerous theories related to the Gypsies ways of living, their origin and their musical composition. No conclusive evidence is possible of these people who existed around 400 years back, due to their attribute of constant traveling.
The Romani people were famous for their musical practices, their acting and their trading habits. Travelling through North Africa, Europe, Gulf countries and north—west India, the music of the Gypsies got influenced by the local cultures leading to their variation in composition. The primary influence on their music has been from such places as Greece, Czech Republic, Romania, Germany, Spain and India. There are differences even among the basic features of Gypsy music. The variation depends on the kind of influence that has affected their musical composition. Music, in this case, includes both vocal as well as instrumental music. The common thread among this varied music lies in their loudness, their emotional expressions and their echoing characteristic. There are the presence of major slides (glissandi) I between successive notes.
In India, Gypsy music generally prevails in the Rajasthan belt. One can listen to Gypsy music from the traveling puppeteers called Bhats, from the snake-charmers called Saperas and the magicians around the above mentioned belt that includes the neighbouring states as well. Typical Gypsy instruments include Kemenche, a type of rebec, and Khartal, a type of castanets.
It was in Hungary, in the month of February 2001 that the first Gypsy Radio station was launched. It was called Radio C. It was from the European Union’s Eastern European Reconstruction Funds that acted as a catalyst in the initiation of Radio C.
Since the Gypsy population was generally an alienated and a secluded group, this Radio station was intended to break the seclusion of the Gypsy population, as expressed by the then editor-in-chief of the radio station. The radio is listened by around 100, 000 gypsy population in and around Budapest. The online Gypsy radio is a development over this, something which is obtainable from the internet. This online Gypsy radio acted as a medium that led to the development of prosperity among the Gypsy community. Thus, breaking free the chains of remaining a parasite on the society and also, making the life of the Gypsy community more vivacious and lively at the same time.
Informative programs on current topics like mixed marriages are provided by the online Gypsy radio. BBC has reported that the radio invites the members of the Gypsy community to bring their own music in order to set up the exclusive music archive of the radio.