Painting by George Vasilescu: Fanfara Ciocalia (oil on canvas, 100 x 100)

INTRODUCTION TO GYPSY BRASS,

by Ronny Stoyan

While travelling from India to Europe, the Roma settled also on the territory of modern Turkey. There they worked a.o. as military musicians.

This kind of music was characterized by Brass Instruments and strong rythm sections. Today, this music is played in Turkey only by Roma Musicians.

Later, the Roma People settled on the entire Balkan and they created a wonderful mix of music with, oriental and slavic influences.This music is also strongly appreciated as dance music.

Today the most popular Protagonists :

Boban and Marco Markovič from Serbia

http://youtu.be/hNfk9WJ4Ff0

Fanfara Ciocărlia from Romania

http://youtu.be/R9bVO_XgL1l

Kočani Orkestar from Macedonia

http://youtu.be/XHZctHgABDU

Fanfara Tirana from Albania

http://youtu.be/EOH9WVhDQJQ

In the whole world are many Balkan Brass Bands. The Brass music is not only played by Roma musicians, but they are the best performers.