GYPSY INFLUENCE IN ROMANTIC MUSIC

The Gypsies The Gypsies (aka Romanis)

were a culturally & ethnically unique nomadic people that showed up in Europe in the late Middle Ages.

It was thought they came from Egypt or were the descendants of Cain. Modern genetics & linguistics shows they probably emigrated from India about 500 AD.

They were often made slaves & otherwise persecuted for their strange customs.

Gypsy Culture & Music Gypsies had a reputation for

mysticism, colorful clotheshigh passions & lively music.

Many were skilled musicians & dancers. In the many places they settled in Europe, their music often became popular with the lower classes, especially in EasternEurope (Hungary, Romania, Yugoslavia) & the Andalusianmountains of Spain (flamenco originated with them).

Gypsy Influence in Romantic Europe

The “Gypsy lifestyle” became popularduring the Romantic period.

(Why? Write some reasons in your notes.)

Famous Gypsy characters: Esmerelda in The Hunchback of Notre Dame Carmen in Bizet’s opera Carmen Heathcliff in Wuthering Heights Javert’s mother in Les Miserables Fortune tellers in various stories.

Gypsy Influence on Music

Classical composers of the Romantic period incorporated Gypsy music in their songs.

Csárdás is a traditional Gypsy-Hungarian folk song/dance fromthe 1700s. Several “classical” composers wrote versions of it inthe 1800s.

The music is very dramatic, beginning slow and ending very fast.

“Csárdás” by Vittorio Monti (1904) http://youtu.be/IPYHy8k9Z34

Brahms’ “Hungarian Dance #5”

Brahms was a German composer who lived in Vienna, Austria and lived 1833-1897. He wrote music for piano, orchestra, & choir. He is considered the main successor of Beethoven and is part of the “3 B’s”.

Some of his most popular works were his Hungarian Dances, which were writtenin a Gypsy-Hungarian style.

http://youtu.be/xCBsR4lO730