Gypsy music band Etnorom Ensemble was founded in 2005 by Jozsef Balog and Ágnes Künstler, the world-famous ex-soloists of ‘Kalyi Jag’ Gypsy folk group. The members are the virtuosos of Central European Gypsy music, who grew up singing and playing music and toured the world from Japan to the United States. Their music broke borders: it was celebrated world-wide as the ‘first authentic Romany voice’ from Middle-Eastern Europe.
Etnorom Ensemble has created the category of ‘Romany world music’. The ensemble’s rich, versatile and especially dynamic repertoire includes Gypsy music from Hungary, the Balkans, Serbia, Romania, Russia, Turkey, Spain and the Arab world! The route of Etnorom’s Gypsy caravan is represented by powerful dance solos performed by Alexandra Cegladi, a specialist in ‘fertility dance styles’. Traditional ‘oral bass’ and authentic Gypsy dances from ‘Szabolcs county’ are part of the show, too, performed by Istvan Balogh ‘Pacala’, Hungary’s best oral bass player.
The concerts are often enriched with an ‘audience dance participation section’ to give you the chance to learn belly dance moves and Romany dances. Etnorom has burnt the stage of big music festivals in Hungary, Italy and Northern Europe with enormous success and in March 2007 the group won the price ‘for the best professional performance’ of the Budapest Fringe Festival – out of 400 concerts and performances – and therefore was invited to perform at the prestigious Budapest Spring Festival in 2008. Etnorom’s first album ‘Romanyi Luma – Gypsy World’ was produced by Fonó Records, Budapest in 2006.
Etnorom has an alternative approach towards Gypsy music by merging the authentic tunes with contemporary world music, swing and jazz elements. Why is this approach new today, when world music is the main trend? Because Etnorom managed to create a musical balance so that the music saves the extreme power of real traditional tunes and rhythms.
Etnorom’s mission is to build contact between Romany tribes who wandered from Northern India and settled down in various parts of the world: In Northern Africa, Andalusia, Turkey, The Balkan Peninsula, Serbia, Russia, Romania and Hungary. In most of the cases the Gypsy people themselves don’t know the music and dances of their brothers and sisters. Etnorom aims to make Gypsy and non-Gypsy people know about the incredible diversity of Gypsy music. This mission, combined with the musical approach of the group has created a new, brave form of Gypsy music that roots in the authentic Gypsy basics and harmonically integrates other musical trends, as well.
Discography:
Gipsy World – Rományi Lumá – Cigány Világ (Fonó, 2006)
Diri Diri (Gryllus, 2011)
Roma Flavors – Roma Izek (ETHNIX Association, 2016)
Author: Angel Romero
Angel Romero y Ruiz has dedicated his life to musical exploration. His efforts included the creation of two online portals, worldmusiccentral.org and musicasdelmundo.com. In addition, Angel is the co-founder of the Transglobal World Music Chart, a panel of world music DJs and writers that celebrates global sounds. Furthermore, he delved into the record business, producing world music studio albums and compilations. His works have appeared on Alula Records, Ellipsis Arts, Indígena Records and Music of the World.
