Roma Culture By: Andr’e SuissaRomas, or Gypsy, have traveled all over the world starting from India, which is considered their origin however not proven, and ending up as far as Spain where their customs have influenced and changed modern day societies. These diasporas were not deliberate but rather forced on them due to their beliefs. Stereotypes have been created to make Romas look like thieves, which is where the phrase, “I’ve been gypped,” comes from. Gypsies were and still are easy to point out due to their dark skin and jet black hair making it easier to discriminate. They traveled to Egypt, Turkey, Romania, Hungary, Slovakia, France, and Spain looking for a place to call home, but no one would accept them. Some even persecuted and murdered them like in the Holocaust.
However, what is most interesting is how their miseries and suffering have made them into one of the strongest cultures to survive so long. One of their biggest strengths is music. Without it, they might not still be here today. Music by definition is “vocal or instrumental sounds possessing a degree of melody, harmony, or rhythm.” However, to the Roma people music is a form of identity, of beauty, of culture. The music heard from these people will tell a story, whether of their troubled past or just pure entertainment. Every person in the Roma society is familiar with or can chant the heartfelt lyrics and melodies that have been orally passed on or created as generations have come and gone.
The Essay on Spanish Music Culture
Spain is known for it’s unique music and dance culture that has helped influence the way we see music today. The Spanish culture is filled with traditional music and dance that many other Spanish speaking countries have taken the art and modified it into their own culture. Music and dance, a huge part of the Spanish culture, has many different varieties that gets the whole Spanish community up out ...
Each country and generation had a different style of music. Yet, they all put a lot of pride and work for each gathering and chant. All sorts of instruments, mostly percussion, are played by extremely talented artists. Certain attires are prepared for the dances that go with each song. The women would normally do most of the dancing.
They would decorate themselves with beautiful linens and jewelry and attach thimbles and tambourines to their body. The men usually would play the instruments. Both sexes would sing, even the little children. A key part in keeping their identity so strong is that the parents are strict on teaching their children the music and dance. Their lyrics tell stories about horrible times or hope for freedom in the end. These styles of music create a kind of passion and thrive to continue.
Their music kept them alive. One of the most interesting things about the Roma society is how their music, being so sacred to them, changed other societies. Flamenco music was created by them. This music is well heard off in Spain. The other popular form of music they passed on to the world is belly dancing. Both of these styles are considered a part of Spanish and Northern African identities.
It is strange how both of these lands have treated the Romas so poorly even though they ” ve given so much. Today’s music spans into many genres. However, most of today’s modern music only appeals to emotions rather than culture. These songs are written to make people think about love, hate, friendship, etc. In spite of this, these lyrics are still important but they tell no story. The songs that really matter are those that do.
Roma music is now a new addition to my music collection. Before viewing this movie, I never knew what beautiful music Roma people had. I usually drift off to simple music such as alternative or rock. A new recent interest is jazz, blues, Latino, and Israeli music. Jazz and Israeli can be related to Roma music because it speaks of depressing eras and sad times. Latino, flamenco, and salsa can be seen as the uplifting side of the Roma dancing, which is extremely fast and very graceful.
The Essay on Music Philippines Popular Songs
LEVI Celerio, National Artist in Music and Literature, passed away yesterday afternoon at the Delgado Memorial Hospital in Quezon City due to cardiac arrest and multiple organ failure just 28 days from his 92 nd birthday. Acknowledged as the dean of Filipino lyricists, Celerio was known for writing the words to classic songs that tugged at the Filipino heartstrings and resonated in the collective ...
If one compares well enough, one can see all the incredible similarities Roma music has to popular genres of the modern world.
