Gypsy music within community and in the society Cover Image

Muzyka cygańska we wspólnocie i w społeczeństwie
Gypsy music within community and in the society

Author(s): Elena Marushiakova
Subject(s): Social Sciences, Fine Arts / Performing Arts, Music, Sociology, Ethnic Minorities Studies
Published by: Muzeum Okręgowe w Tarnowie
Keywords: Roma; music; society

Summary/Abstract: The Gypsies (Roma and other Gypsy communities) are actually an example how a people can exist in two dimensions – as a separate community/communities and as a more or less separated part of the society. Numerous researches of Romani studies scholar till now paid attention mostly on them as detached, specific community, but when speaking about ethnomusicology a paradox is observed. Main subject of majority researches are the Gypsy musicians, who serve the surrounding society, i.e. Roma are studied not so much as community, but rather as part of the society. The present article analyses the different spheres of functioning of the Gypsy music in the society and within the society and their mutual overlapping. Special attention is paid on role of the music within the Gypsy communities – in the different family (mainly during weddings) and calendar holidays, during the different rituals, in the everyday life, in different midst (family, age and/or sex restricted). On this ba¬sis the different appearances of the community identity of the Gypsies are analyzed, as well as the role, which the “Gypsy Music” (determined as such by the community itself) has on its creation and expression.

  • Issue Year: 6/2013
  • Issue No: 1
  • Page Range: 27-44
  • Page Count: 18
  • Language: English, Polish, Romany