- artist:Hilja Grönfors + Various Artists
- featured artist:Various Artists
- region:Nordic
- style(s):A Cappella, Traditional
- country:Norway
- formats:CD (Compact Disc)
- record posted by:Etnisk Musikklubb
- label:Etnisk Musikklubb
- publisher:Etnisk Musikklubb
FOR THE FIRST TIME EVER,ROMANY SONGS FROM FINLAND,
NORWAY AND SWEDEN ARE PRESENTED ON ONE AND THE SAME ALBUM.
The texts are partly written in the native languages, but also in Romany language, as it appears in these three countries. Types of songs vary from traditional folk songs in the old style, to new dance-songs and modern “Romany-rapp”. All melodies are in a minor key, a typical trait with all Romany songs from Nordic countries. Texts and melodies reflect the unhappy history of the Romany people: being homeless and persecuted, taking also up fundamental human themes, like loneliness and unhappy love. Sometimes the presentations appear in a rather sentimental mood.The main intention of the CD is primarily to give a documentation of songs and music of the Romany people in the Nordic countries. Songs in the old style and tonality are given priority. Singers of all ages are chosen, as well as songs that can show the differences in style from country to country. Songs with many Romany words and in pure Romany language have been chosen in order to make clear that there still is a strong song tradition among Romany people in the Nordic countries. As far as I know, nobody has ever before attempted to give such a documentation.It must be admitted that it has been a great challenge to complete this project! Sometimes a minor mood has ridden the producer, but the problems never managed to overshadow the joy and enthusiasm at bottom. Also purely technical problems, like patching recordings together, have been a great challenge, since recordings were made live in different rooms with very different acoustics. Thus,the present CD product certainly contains “field recordings”. But given the underlying intention, this should not count as a disadvantage.