Bright Balkan morning : Romani lives & the power of music in Greek Macedonia / photographs by Dick Blau ; text by Charles & Angeliki Vellou Keil ; soundscapes by Steven Feld.

Author/creator Keil, Charles
Other author Blau, Dick, 1943- photographer.
Other author Keil, Angeliki V., 1936-
Other author Feld, Steven.
Format Book
Publication InfoMiddletown, CT : Wesleyan University Press, ©2002.
Descriptionxxiv, 325 pages : illustrations ; 25 x 29 cm + 1 audio disc (digital ; 4 3/4 in.)
Subjects
Romanies--Greece. --Macedonia. --Music. --History and criticism.
Romanies--Greece. --Macedonia. --Social life and customs.

Contents Foreword / Ian Hancock -- The most important instruments in the world -- Layered identities and improvised traditions: Roma in the Byzantine-Ottoman-Greek continuum -- The Roma of Jumaya -- Mahala album -- The life of Mitsos Hindzos -- In their own words, translated -- Rites of inclusion -- Afterword / Dick Blau -- Soundscapes of New Year's week in Greek Macedonia: CD recording and notes by Steven Feld, with comments by Charles and Angeliki Vellou Keil -- Music/culture series.
Contents Accompanying CD: Market Day in Jumaya -- Afternoon at Mahala Café -- At home in Mahala -- At church, Sunday, December 31 -- Pre-New Year's parties in Serres -- Parties for the new year in Sohos -- Taverna party at Nikisiani -- The road home.
Abstract A stunningly-illustrated interweaving of first person narratives, photographs, cultural commentary and soundscapes, this book provides an unprecedented view of settled Romani lives in the Balkans and the unique roles of "Gypsy" instrument players in the region. These Romani instrumentalists from Iraklia, an ancient Greek Macedonian crossroads and market town that is home to about 2,000 Roma, provide the sounds that facilitate parties and rites of passage, performing an essential and highly valued service for their multicultural neighbors. At the heart of the book are ten first-person Romani life stories. The authors of the text situate these personal accounts within the cultural, historical and economic setting of Greek Macedonia, and provide an overview of musical events in diverse localities. The 161 black and white photographs by Dick Blau include parades, parties, weddings and wrestling matches; portraits of the musicians and their families; studies of domestic life in the Romani neighborhood; reproductions from Romani family albums and other historic images. Steven Feld's soundscape CD features the voices and instruments of people whose stories are told in the book. Familiar sounds of markets, church, neighborhood and countryside set the context for exuberant performances at home and at parties, cafes and nightclubs.
Bibliography noteIncludes bibliographical references (pages 303-308) and index.
LCCN 2002016785
ISBN0819564885 (pbk. : alk. paper)
ISBN0819564893 (pbk. : alk. paper)

Availability

Library Location Call Number Status Item Actions
Music Music Media - Ask at Circulation Desk CD-6251 ✔ Available Place Hold
Music Closed Stacks - Ask at Circulation Desk ML3604.7.M33 K45 2002 ✔ Available Place Hold