Romani musicians do not conceive of the voice as something that should primarily sound "pretty." Regardless of whether or not it is particularly pleasant in any given situation, the voice should be used to express one or more aesthetic values as well as the mental state of its owner. Popular descriptors such as "hot-tempered" or "fiery," when applied to Romani music, act merely as vague shorthand that is often devoid of actual meaning. In reality, Romani musical styles are highly diverse and tend to work not only with emotions, but also with artistic and general philosophy as well as intricate techniques. Even a person without impressive skills, however, can be an "authentic" interpreter of Romani songs. This can be achieved by knowing what we want to convey through singing, whom we are trying to reach (including ourselves), or which position we'd like to take up within a group.
In this workshop, we will explore simple as well as somewhat complex songs of Czech, Slovak and Russian Roma. We will honor a common Romani practice – anyone with a bond to music can and should participate, and there is no reason for embarassment. We will stress feeling and drama in vocal expression as well as rhythmic and melodic elements that show how much we enjoy working with music. We will use various basic techniques, e.g., breathy voice, deep and "older" voices, piercing "nasal" singing, etc. We'll attempt to enrich the basic melody with ornaments and rhythmic invention. We can even approach a "jazzier" style of improvisation. Movement, too, is an important component of music, and Romani songs are no exception. At the very least, they call for snapping, clapping and, during slow songs, facial expressions that facilitate a deeper connection with the music. In the end, participants will also be familiar with some stylistic conventions of Romani music, such as vocal percussion (which is a treat!) or the gradual increase of tempo.
Petra Gelbart's Romani family has taught her that life should constantly be accompanied by music, humor, or both. Even though she has a strong commitment to music and will cry into her garlic potatoes given the right soundtrack, she's happiest when teaching in a fun style. She likes to help others (including jaded teenagers) not to take anything too seriously and to dive into music-making just as they are.
Fill out the registration form in the REGISTRATION section.