Music Background to this section Return to the Music list Gypsy music is a distinct and rich domain with a highly varied content. Today Gypsy (Roma) artists perform anything from rap, popular, Latin, modern jazz, alternative, romantic to classical music. For many centuries in Europe, and in Hungary and Spain in particular, many Roma took up music as a profession which often ran in families. So there are families of musicians today whose great grandparents were also musicians. These families normally initiate the training of children within the family. The levels of professionalism attained are equal or surpass the best in the world. In this role, of general musicians, the Roma played just about everything. New music and jazz coming from America at the turn of the century was enlivened by Gypsy orchestras and bands creating several versions of what might be called "standards". This was possible because of the Roma "finger skills", their habit of memorising tunes and their melodic discipline. This combination of skills are essential for skillful improvisation just as the best modern jazz musicians do. So many Roma musicians will certainly read scores but will commit tunes to memory rapidly and then they are able to take the music beyond the score content with virtuoso improvisations. Many classical musicians find it difficult enough to concentrate and follow a score from beginning to end with no thought of improvisation! It is remarkable that when asked, many classically trained Roma musicians have a professional liking and appreciation of modern jazz. It is all music. Those of them who turn their hand to modern jazz are normally quite outstanding. Part of the non-Roma stereotype of Roma and Roma music is that of country folk playing on a fiddle. But the cultural tradition of, and liking for, music, amongst the Roma, especially in Hungary and Spain is historic and deep rooted. For some, it is a way of life and expression. Roma artists are second to none in their professionalism and in their investment of energy in sustaining this rich cultural tradition. It is something loved, supported, appreciated and enjoyed by all generations and it represents an attractive, important and more apparent aspect of Roma culture. Perhaps the best known and vibrant form of music associated with the Roma is Flamenco. When the Christian royal family of Spain banished the Moors (Arabs) after 600 years of living in Spain, the Roma had been settling in Spain. So although everything "Moorish" was frowned upon it was impossible to erase that unmistakable imprint of Arabic melody and tone inflection from Spanish music, carried forward in significant part, by Roma musicians. In some regions Roma Flamenco artists developed specific styles of rythm, melody and dance. It would be unfair to the many non-Roma who helped make Flamenco what it is today to try and claim that Flamenco is a Roma development. The overbearing Arabic character is there and, as in their other musical pursuits, the Roma have refined and improvised, contributing much to its transformation into, and sustaining it, as an attractive and vibrant art form. Flamenco, of course, is music in the form of instrumentals and song and it is dance. In is a multi-dimensional expression and this is what makes it such a powerful art form. Flamenco guitar varies from a soft beating of a rythm to comprehensive complex and incredibly difficult classical "rushes", and yes within those, improvisations. Flamenco has everything. Above all it has a discipline. It is a discipline, however, which enables the artist to accurately express what he or she wants to convey, nothing is rote, it comes from the body, it comes from the heart. Without an adequate dedication and love for the art, Flamenco could not be what it is. This section will try and touch on all of these things. This is a difficult task, but we feel that it will be worth the effort.