Rough Guide: Music of the Gypsies

Various Artists - International - Latin - Flamenco, Rough Guide (Series)

Product Details

• Audio CD (October 8, 2001)
• Original Release Date: September 28, 1999
• Number of Discs: 1
• Label: World Music Network
• ASIN: B00001NTKC
• Average Customer Review: 4.6 out of 5 stars See all reviews (5 customer reviews)
• Amazon.com Sales Rank: #97,909 in Music (See Bestsellers in Music)

  Popular in these categories: (What's this?)

  #5 in	Music > Indie Music > Latin Music > Flamenco
  #12 in	Music > World Music > Europe > Eastern Europe > Romania
  #24 in	Music > World Music > Middle East > Turkey

Editorial Reviews

Amazon.com
You're probably familiar with the flamenco fireworks of Spain's bestselling Gipsy Kings. But there are nearly as many types of Gypsy music as there are countries in which the Gypsies--or Roma--have settled since dispersing from Rajasthan, India, more than a thousand years ago. The highlights of this nicely documented compilation include Romania's Fanfare Ciocarlia, a brass band that plays a sort of speed klezmer at dizzying tempos; the Rajasthan ensemble Musafir, who weave serpentine melodies on the dumbek drum and flute; the warm clarinet and accordions of Italy's Acquaragia Drom; and the richly arranged 12-piece Taraf de Haidouks, also from Romania. What else? Sad, folk-singing British Gypsies (Jasper and Levi Smith), elegant and haunting Greek Gypsies (Eleni Vitali, Kostas Pavlidis), and Hungary's raucous and jazzy Kalman Balogh. And the diversity of the flamenco Gypsies is of course amply demonstrated by Pata Negra, Tomatito, and the duo of El Indio Gitano and Gerardo Nunez. --Richard Gehr

From Rhythm Magazine
I have yet to be disappointed by any collection in the Rough Guide series, and The Rough Guide to the Music of the Gypsies is no exception. Once again, the compilers help us explore the world from our living rooms, this time by putting together an impressive mix of Roma music, following the Gypsy trail from India to Turkey to Hungary to Spain.The music of the Gypsies incorporates many of the instruments and folk traditions of the lands they have resided in, while maintaining a distinctive Roma flavor. This CD offers a wonderful overview of various Gypsy styles, which are as different from each other as classical is from rock. The album includes such celebrated groups as Musafir and Taraf de Haodouks, but there are also such delightful lesser-known performers as Eleni Vitali (on "Song of the Gypsies") and the emotionally intense Kostas Pavlidis (on "Jastar Amenge Dur").

Customer Reviews

Most Helpful Customer Reviews

9 of 9 people found the following review helpful:

5.0 out of 5 stars Incredible! Impressive! Irresistable!, May 9, 2002

By	Erika Borsos "pepper flower" (Gulf Coast of FL, USA) - See all my reviews (TOP 500 REVIEWER)

This tapestry of *irresistible* gypsy music from Spain, Italy, Greece, Turkey, the Balkans (Kosovo, Macedonia), Rajasthan (India), Hungary, Romania, England and as far north as Finland, is woven into a timeless, seamless whole! Most *impressive* is the root sound that essentially remains unaltered no matter from which country the music arises. The improvisations and embellishments are indefinable and original spanning many centuries and musical styles. However, it is interesing to see that Finnish gypsy rhythm & melody is similar to that of Italy, Hungary, and Romania. Also, Balkan gypsy music by Madhe Krushe has strong influences of the traditional instruments played in Bulgaria, Macedonia, & Kosovo. The raw firey vocals of the Spanish gypsies unearth a vitality and dynamism no other singers emulate. The Greek gypsies express deep haunting passion and emotions, as only those of Meditarranean extraction can do ... Taraf de Haidouks & Kalman Balogh are world reknown Central European musicians, their music is synonomous with the culture and traditions of Romania and Hungary respectively. Rough Guide provides the greatest diversity of gypsy music I have yet enountered in any one CD! They cover Eastern and Western Europe, the Balkans, a bit of Asia, & most surprisingly Finland, too! This is an *incredible* *not* *to* *be* *missed* CD!!! BUY IT!!!
Erika Borsos (erikab93)

7 of 7 people found the following review helpful:

5.0 out of 5 stars Entrancing and pure, November 6, 1999

By	Richard N. Schultz (Orlando, FL USA) - See all my reviews (REAL NAME)

An excellent musical montage from around the world, this album is both a contemporary look into the passion of the Gypsy soul and an historical view of the traditions of these nomadic, intense and complex people. If you are interested in taking your emotional pulse, this CD is just what the doctor ordered.

6 of 6 people found the following review helpful:

3.0 out of 5 stars Good, but there are better, July 7, 2002

By	"peabody2" (USA) - See all my reviews

This CD is a good collection of genuine gypsy music, but I have heard better. Gypsy Caravan by Putumayo is more accessible for the general public in my opinion. Another absolutely fantastic collection of Gypsy music can be found in the CD Latcho Drom. This CD is actually a soundtrack to a brilliant and beautiful documentary of that same name, and I would recommend anyone who is even remotely interested in gypsy music to see it. It is absolutely stunning!!