Silk Road Project: Rustem

The sweet and seductive violin solo in "Rustem" gives a glimpse of a musical culture that is uniquely global while also rooted in local tradition. The music of the Roma reflects the rich musical cross-pollination of a borderless people, with seamless meshing of local instruments, musical languages and styles. Originally from North Central India, the nomadic Roma migrated to Persia and Europe around 300 B.C.E. They eventually settled in Wallachia and Moldavia (present-day Romania), but suffered savage persecution until the mid-19th century. Europeans mistook the Roma for Egyptians and coined the term "gypsies" in the 15th century. Today the Roma diaspora can be found on almost every continent.

This Roma piece from Romania, "Rustem," was arranged for the Silk Road Project by Ljova and is dedicated to Marty Peretz and Anne Peretz with deep appreciation and thanks.

For more on the Silk Road Ensemble and the Silk Road Project, visit http://www.silkroadproject.org

Category:

Music

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• pipa

[arashtony]

Can someone tell me the name of that violinist who goes off on a wild solo? It blew me away, as did the whole arrangement. Fabulous!

[silkroadproject]

@arashtony Johnny Gandelsman and Colin Jacobsen are the violinists in this piece. That's Johnny on the right by Yo-Yo Ma. Glad you liked the arrangement!

[MrCraiessou]

RUSTEM is not a Gypsy piece of music.It is an old folkloric theme,mostly South Romanian but also found In Bulgaria and historical Macedonia.It traces down to ancient Thracians. What made you think it is Gypsy?Just because Gypsy performers play rustem?Anyone can play it...

[Churchillsrevenge]

@MrCraiessou

You really need to answer this question on an academic level, rather than just sit quietly rotting in the undergrowth!:

Where is the cultural-musico manifestation of Rum.Rroma "communitas" giving definition to Rum.Rroma social cohesion and identity to the Rumanian nation!

[Ameretat010]

@MrCraiessou Thank you for the information. I have no idea why I didn't think of the connection with Latin myself. Anyway, I'm quite sure that any Romanian gypsy would agree with you: When Romanian gypsies start playing their traditional stuff,it sounds very different from the rustem or any other traditional Romanian music. And altogether different from the clip here... :) I don't know why you are described as "fascist" here. I found your comments very pertinent and your explanations very clear.

[MrCraiessou]

@Ameretat010 A Romanian dictionary.Rustem is an old latin word that gave the great family of "rustic' meaning peasant-like,agricultural, primitive just like the wooden yoke,the first yoke used in agriculture.Romanian language is a latin language preserving many words from "rustic' -rustem etimologic family. The dance itself is a peasant,agricultural Romanian old dance,mainly performed by girls in spring-summer festivals.It has NOTHING to do with Gypsy nomadic folklore,heroes.Read Romanian sites.

[arashtony]

@silkroadproject Much appreciated!

[Ameretat010]

@MrCraiessou "Rustem is a Romanian word meaning the wood from the yoke" - kindly cite your sources for this information please, sir. The only meaning other than the respective Romanian folk dance that I could find on the web, was the name Rustem, of Persian origin, meaning "hero".

[MrCraiessou]

@MrCraiessou Did I say something about idiotic concepts "inferior/superior"?I was talking about different identities,Gypsies were always free in Romania to be what they are -Gypsies/Tsigans.We never practised forced assimilation,they are completely free to become Romanian-ised or preserve their authentic traditions,clothing,musical sound,beliefs etc.You can't get out of your propaganda leaflets,you are ready to betray your true history for some pathetic victim role.

[Churchillsrevenge]

@MrCraiessou

Therefore after 650 years they are an unacceptable otherness, representing a racial corruption of the pure Rumanian, and superior ancient Rumanian peasant culture. The Rumanian setting the Rroma an example, with the Rumanian and Rumanian culture making use of the Rroma as and how required by the Rumania, which has no intention of providing a cohesive over-arching culture producing a home-identity for the Rroma.

=

Fascism

You sound like Gabor Vona speaking before the Garda.

[MrCraiessou]

@Churchillsrevenge Gypsies are not Romanians,they are a foreign ethnic group living in Romania or other European countries.They live in isolated groups,have oriental (Turkish/North African) costumes and musical sound and a very different language.They were always perceived as strangers, exotic and oriental(Asia or Afrika)They settled colonies in our country, now they try to settle colonies in the intolerant West.