Romani Studies

The traditional songs of the Finnish Romany: Silent tradition

Romani Studies (2008), 18, (1), 71–91.

DOI
https://doi.org/10.3828/rs.2008.3
Language
English
Pages
21

Abstract

Romany music is a rather new topic of ethnomusical research in Finland despite the fact that the Romanies came to Finland in the early sixteenth century and music plays an especially important role in Roma society. Music is an important tool for social interaction as status. Traditionally two types of Romany music-making are known in Finland; one is musical service for outsiders (popularised ethnic Romany music), that is, for non-Romany audiences, and the other is folk music for the small-scale community. The aim of the present article is to give voice to the Finnish traditional Roma songs. As in the rest of the world, also in Finland the folk music of the Romanies is inevitably connected to the local music culture. For example, the older song layer of the Finnish Romany—modal songs—is related to the old sleigh song of Southern Ostrobothnia (southern part of Finland). These melodies are monophonic, and unaccompanied, being sequences in a natural minor key. The structure of the new-style songs consists of a melodic or rhythmic motif of the length of one line. Songs are accompanied by guitar. The topics of the songs, as well as any folkloristic material, widely reflect the former Romany way of life and culture. The reality of former generations and the norms of the community have been passed down verbally from one generation to another. The lyrics of the ones I collected consist of poignant love songs, songs of horse trading and markets, and boasting songs, such as were once sung in the event of conflict.

Access Token

FormatOnline article

£25.00
READ THIS ARTICLE
References
Full Text
PDF
If you have private access to this content, please log in with your username and password here

Åberg, Kai. 1997. Romanikulttuuri ja perinteiset laulut: Musiikillisten käsitysten kartoitusta Pohjois-Karjalassa. Joensuu: Joensuun yliopisto. Romanikulttuuri ja perinteiset laulut: Musiikillisten käsitysten kartoitusta Pohjois-Karjalassa Google Scholar

Åberg, Kai. 2002. 'Nää laulut kato kertoo meijän elämästä': Tutkimus romanien laulukulttuurista Itä-Suomessa 1990-luvulla. Helsinki: Suomen etnomusikologinen seura. 'Nää laulut kato kertoo meijän elämästä': Tutkimus romanien laulukulttuurista Itä-Suomessa 1990-luvulla Google Scholar

Åberg, Kai. 2003. Romanilauluja Itä-Suomesta. Helsinki: SKS. Romanilauluja Itä-Suomesta Google Scholar

 Google Scholar

Blomster, Risto. 1996. Suomen mustalaissävelmien tyylit ja niiden sulautumat. Musiikin Suunta 18(1): 23–31. Suomen mustalaissävelmien tyylit ja niiden sulautumat Musiikin Suunta 18 23 31 Google Scholar

 Google Scholar

Blomster, Risto and Åberg Kai. 2006. Suomen romanimusiikki. Helsinki: SKS. Suomen romanimusiikki Google Scholar

Davidova, Eva. 1991. Introduction. In: Davidova, Eva and Zizka, Jan, eds. Folk music of the sedentary Gypsies of Czechoslovakia. Budapest: Institute for Musicology of the Hungarian Academy for Sciences. 29–33. Introduction Folk music of the sedentary Gypsies of Czechoslovakia 29 33 Google Scholar

Grönfors, Martti. 1981. Suomen mustalaiskansa. Helsinki: WSOY. Suomen mustalaiskansa Google Scholar

Hancock, Ian. 1980. 'Gypsies'. In: Harward encyclopedia of American ethnic groups. Cambridge, MA: Harvard University Press. In: Harward encyclopedia of American ethnic groups 'Gypsies' Google Scholar

 Google Scholar

 Google Scholar

 Google Scholar

Jalkanen, Pekka and Laaksonen, Pekka. 1972. Kaale Dzambena. Helsinki: SKS. Kaale Dzambena Google Scholar

 Google Scholar

Kopsa-Schön, Tuula. 1996. Kulttuuri-identiteetin jäljillä: Suomen romanien kulttuuri-identiteetistä 1980-luvun alussa. Helsinki: SKS. Kulttuuri-identiteetin jäljillä: Suomen romanien kulttuuri-identiteetistä 1980-luvun alussa Google Scholar

 Google Scholar

Kovalcsik, Katalin. 1992. About the Collection. In: Kovalcsik, Katalin, ed. Ernö Kiraly's collection of Gypsy folk music from Voivodina. Budapest: Institute for Musicology of the Hungarian Academy For Sciences. 27–35. About the Collection Ernö Kiraly's collection of Gypsy folk music from Voivodina 27 35 Google Scholar

Laaksonen, Pekka. 1972. Kaale Dzambena. Helsinki: SKS. Kaale Dzambena Google Scholar

 Google Scholar

 Google Scholar

Pettan, Svanibor. 2002. Rom musicians in Kosovo: Interaction and creativity. Kovalcick, Katalin, ed. Budapest: Institute for Musicology of the Hungarian Academy for Sciences. 151–309. Rom musicians in Kosovo: Interaction and creativity 151 309 Google Scholar

Pulma, Panu. 2006. Suljetut ovet: Pohjoismaiden romanipolitiikka 1500-luvulta EU-aikaan. Helsinki: SKS. Suljetut ovet: Pohjoismaiden romanipolitiikka 1500-luvulta EU-aikaan Google Scholar

Viljanen-Saira, Anna Maria. 1979. Mustalaiskulttuuri ja kulttuurin muutos. Helsinki: Helsingin yliopiston suomalais-ugrilaisen kansantieteen yleisen etnologian linjan lisensiaatin tutkielma. Mustalaiskulttuuri ja kulttuurin muutos Google Scholar

Zizka, Jan. 1991. A musical description of sedentary Gypsies' folk songs. In: Davidova, Eva and Zizka, Jan eds. Folk Music of the sedentary Gypsies of Czechoslovakia. Budapest: Institute for Musicology of the Hungarian Academy for Sciences. 34–41. A musical description of sedentary Gypsies' folk songs Folk Music of the sedentary Gypsies of Czechoslovakia 34 41 Google Scholar

If you have private access to this content, please log in with your username and password here

Details

Author details

Åberg, Kai