Gypsy Roma Traveller Leeds
The permanent site of the Gypsy Roma Traveller Communities
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Music Session
A Session at the Pointer on the occasion of a welcome visit to Leeds by the Traveller Pipers, John and Larry Rooney in 2005. Download mp3 files of the session at the bottom of this page.
Gypsy tradition of strong musical talent
Classical Admiration
With a tradition of such strong musical talent it is hardly surprising that Gypsy musicians have earned the respect, love and admiration of some of the greatest classical composers such as Liszt, Debussy, Delibes, Vaughan Williams and many more.
Claude Debussy
During Claude Debussys' stay in Budapest he was enchanted by Bela Radic's Gypsy orchestra and said that if he were to come to Budapest again it would be mainly to hear Radic's playing. In a letter he wrote in 1910, he spoke passionately of the talents of Gypsy musicians.
"My feeling is that you do not honour this music according to its true value! It has become too much a part of your everyday life. You no longer feel its artistic strength."
Leo Delibes (1836-1891)
Having heard so much about the skill of Gypsy musicians Delibes decided to test this out for himself.
At the 1878 World Exhibition in Paris he saw for himself their extraordinary talent for playing by ear. He demonstrated a French song to Bela Berke's Gypsy Orchestra and in a short time he was astounded to find that they were playing the song with him.
Liszt
In 1847 Liszt met Barbu Lautaru a famous Romanian Gypsy musician. Having listened to Barbu and his three-man ensemble with great enjoyment Liszt sat down to the piano saying,
"I have heard your music with great pleasure; now, pray, listen to mine."
Whereupon, Liszt played a terrific improvisation of a Hungarian march. When he had finished, to rapturous applause, the old Gypsy said, 'That was so beautiful Master, that, if I may, I should like to try it myself."
Barbu turned to his band and played back a virtuoso performance of the piece Liszt had just played!
When the piece came to an end, Liszt seized two glasses and rushed over to Barbu saying,
"Drink, Barbu, my Master, drink! God has made you a true artist. Indeed, you are a far greater artist than I!"
Ralph Vaughan Williams
In 1912, a journalist asked Vaughan Williams what had been his most memorable musical impression for the year . He replied that it was hearing a Gypsy sing at Monkland, a village near Leominster.
He'd gone with Ella Mary Leather who often took Vaughan Williams and his wife to visit friends of hers who were Gypsies.
At dusk they found the Gypsy camp. There were several caravans, each with its own wood fire burning.
Alfred Price Jones was there and he agreed to sing.
Vaughan Williams wrote,
"lt was a cold, clear September night and we were by the blazing fire in the open ground of the Gypsy encampment; the fire had been specially lighted to enable us to note down tunes and words in the growing darkness. Then out of the half light came the sound of a beautiful tenor voice singing The Unquiet Grave .'
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Famous Gypsies and Roma
Artists, Writers, Scientists, Actors & Actresses, Musicians & Singers, Nobel Prizes, Pioneers & Adventurers, Presidents of the Republic, Parliament Members, Preachers, War Heroes, Journalists, Fashion Designer, Sport... If you weren't aware of the contributions Gypsy and Roma people have made follow the link below.
Also read about
Classical Inspiration
Gypsy music lifestyle and culture have been inspirational for many of the world's greatest classical composers.
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