While reviled as a people, the Roma of Eastern Europe are revered for their music.
UO anthropologist and folklorist Carol Silverman has studied the Roma ethnic minority for thirty years. On her annual pilgrimages to Eastern Europe, she has documented their festivals and celebrations, and the ways in which music plays an integral part of their community life. She shares the following videos and images.
Video 1 (wmv, mov) Macedonian Romani men perform a crossing dance to the accompaniment of zurla (double reed wind instrument) and tapan (two-headed drum); these instruments have beed played by Roma for centuries in the Balkans. Macedonia, 1990. Video by Carol Silverman.
Right: Bulgarian Romani monkey trainer. Monkey training has been a traditional occupation of Balkan Roma for centuries. Photograph by Carol Silverman, 1984.
Video 2 (wmv, mov) Esma Redzepova performs Dzelem Dzelem at Sutkafest in 1996 in Macedonia. It is a song in the Romani language about the difficult fate of Roma. Esma was a pioneer in bringing Romani music to non-Romani audiences. Used with permission.
Left: Macedonian Romani woman leads the dance line with a decorated sieve, a symbol of fertility and good luck. Photograph by Carol Silverman,1994.
Video 3 (wmv, mov) Romani wedding in Macedonia 1990. The bride (in pink) dances in the center with her sister as guests dance holding hands in line. Video by Carol Silverman.
Right: Bulgarian Romani bear trainer. Bear training has been a traditional occupation of Balkan Roma for centuries. Photograph by Carol Silverman, 1980.
Video 4 (wmv, mov) Ismail Lumanovski performing improvisatory Romani music on clarinet in NY, 2005; Seido Salifoski plays drum and Toni Jankuloski plays keyboard. Video by Carol Silverman.
