A finer, more accomplished group of musicians
you will be hard pressed to find anywhere.
If Stefan Banyak plays Gypsy Melodies on his Violin,
and Ernest Sarkosi produces the gentlest and then
the most agressive sounds from his Zimbalon,
you could swear that you have just discovered a new idea of Music.
The Clarinet of Zoltan Grunza could quite easily compete with Benny Goodman,
while the two double bassists and Silvia Sarkosiova on the Chello underpin the
wonderful melodies of this groups repertoire.
Paul Gulda introduces the "Gypsy Devils"
1st Violin: Stefan Banyak, 2nd Violin: Emil Hasala,
Viola: Josef Farkas, Chello:Silvia Sarkosiova
String Bass: Alexander Mihoc & Tibor Levai
Cimbalon: Ernest Sarkosi, Clarinet: Zoltan Grunza
I truly regret that this Blog is without sound or your astonishment about this Zimbalist would have no end.
So, who are the 'Roma' ?
A people having migrated into the European continental area from India an estimated thousand years ago.
They are now widely dispersed in Central and Eastern Europe. Some also call Spain France and Italy their home.
About one million live in the USA and in Canada.
They speak the language of the Country in which they live, but an estimated two million speak a variety of Romani dialects.
To this day they are referred to and refer to themselves a 'Gypsies', a shortened form of 'Egyptians'.
Today, however, the word has adopted a derogatory meaning and the word 'Roma' and its deriviations is used almost exclusively. In the German speaking areas of Europe the term 'Zigeuner' is used and it too has received a derogatory meaning.
How were the Roma received in Europe ?
with very few exceptions they were expelled from time to time and from most areas of Germany, Switzerland, Italy, France, Sweden and Denmark and from most other regions of this Continent.
In 1510, any Romani found in Switzerland were ordered put to death.
Similarly they were executed in England and several other countries
During the Nazi regime Romani were placed into Concentration and Extermination camps, if they were not executed on sight. During this time, it is estimated, that between 500,000 and 1,000,000 Roma were killed as a result of official Government policy.
Almost all European Countries victimized Romani beyond imagination and most still do so, even if without Government policy and against existing human rights legislation.
In light of all this I can only express my surprise and admiration that some of them can still play such joyful music and sing and dance.
It must be observed, however, that even their joyful tunes have an undercurrent of sorrow.
Listen to a Gypsy Violin !
suggests: Bertstravels
material sources: Personal conversation and Wikipedia
