·:[ Dos Lunares ]:·
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Django Reinhardt – J’attendrai Swing 1939

Los Angeles Times article got me thinking about Django:

Django Reinhardt: The original Guitar Hero?

Saturday marks what would have been the 100th birthday of guitarist Django Reinhardt, and one thing the Gypsy jazz innovator is often credited with is helping elevate the guitar from a supporting role to a lead player in his vibrant take on early American jazz.

Read more here.

Actions, Conversations, and Intersections
an exhibition of participatory projects at the Los Angeles Municipal Art Gallery January 24 – April 18, 2010
http://www.actionsconversationsintersections.com/

Dos Lunares presents a weekend journey into Romani/Gypsy culture and music with a film screening, discussion and an interactive Flamenco performance.

More details coming soon!

Peret-Borriquito

I’m in the midst of reading Little Money Street: In Search of Gypsies and Their Music in the South of France, a nice little book on French Catalan Gitanos. It mostly focuses on the popular group Tekameli. But whenever I hear ‘Catalan rumbas’ my mind automatically goes to Peret and his charming rumbas. He is the master of the style.

Happy New Year!

Some exciting events coming up this year! In March Dos Lunares will be presenting a program at the Barnsdall Municipal Art Gallery, more info coming soon.

For now, I am excited by the trailer for Tony Gatliff’s new film Liberté. The visuals go along with the book I’m currently reading Zoli by Colum McCann.

I have a special fondness for children who develop arte at an early age. Considering how distracted kids are these days by computer and TV screens, it’s inspiring to see youngins so adeptly demonstrate compas and sentimiento in their baile and cante. The following are two clips that have blown me away!

Battle between El Piky y El Banana recorded in Algemesi (Andalucia)

Lole y Manuel accompany a film clip of Gitanos in the country

Trailer for Polígono Sur

For hundreds of years, Gitanos in Sevilla lived in a neighborhood called Triana alongside the Guadalquivir river. Some of the most beautiful and intense Flamenco was created here amongst the culturally rich Gitanos. The Spanish authorities and developers eyed their enviable location with dollar signs in their eyes and as with happens with gentrification around the world, the Gitano community was flung to the outskirts of the city to live in government created high-rise housing. In this foreboding place they attempted to carry-on the traditions they practiced for hundreds of years but unfortunately the geography of the area made this difficult. (There is a well-known story of the man who would take his donkey up and down the elevator.) One tradition that did survive is Flamenco. The name of this place? Polígono Sur or Las Tres Mil Viviendas de Sevilla.

From the description: Archival film of Gypsy dances from the village of Királyháza.

Happy Sunday!

Esma Redžepova-Romano horo

Charming song by Esma, Queen of the Gypsies. I love the 60s tropical flourishes, the background vocals, the bongos and of course, Esma’s gorgeous voice.

From the European Roma and Travellers Forum

WARNING

Drago amala,/ Dear Friends,

A short while ago, the Secretary General of the Council of Europe received a letter from the International Romani Union, informing him of the creation of a Roma passport as a new identification document of the Roma people around the world.

Considering the role and the objectives of the European Roma and Travellers Forum, I would like to use this opportunity to warn Roma around the world not to associate themselves with this document. The so-called ‘Roma passport’ is unlawful and as such it does not comply with any international standards which would allow for it to be considered as a legal identification document.

Many Roma who are not well informed and who are facing the problem of lack of personal Identification papers in the country they live in could think that this is a solution to their problem. Holders of such document when crossing country borders could be charged with a criminal offense.

I am urging you not to send any photos or money aiming at obtaining such a document. You should instead inform all Roma people you know that this so-called ‘passport’ has no validity and that it is also illegal. We should not be seen as supporting a business which puts our community in a challenging situation.

The European Roma and Travellers Forum has started an investigation on this matter and hopefully we will be able to come back to you very soon with our results..

Thank you very much for your cooperation and support!

Yours,
Rudko Kawczynski
President
European Roma and Travellers Forum

Evropako Forumo e Romengo thaj e Phirutnengo (EFRP)
Forum européen des Roms et des Gens du voyage (FERV)
European Roma and Travellers Forum (ERTF)

DG III – Cohésion Sociale / Social Cohesion
Conseil de l’Europe / Council of Europe
AGORA Bâtiment – 1 quai Jacoutot
F – 67075 Strasbourg

Tel.: + 33 (0)3 90 21 43 31
Fax: + 33 (0)3 90 21 56 58
E-mail: robert.rustem@coe.int
http://ertf.org

Gelem Gelem sung by Jaroslav Godla

What a gorgeous performance of this beautiful song! Gelem Gelem or Djelem Djelem is the official anthem of Romani people worldwide.

From the website www.romani.org:

DJELEM DJELEM – THE ROMANI ANTHEM
Written by Zarko Jovanovic, 1969
Adopted as the official Romani anthem at the First World Romani Congress in London, England, April 8, 1971

Romani

Djelem, djelem, lungone dromensa
Maladilem baxtale Romensa
Djelem, djelem, lungone dromensa
Maladilem baxtale Romensa.
Ay, Romale, Ay, Chavale,
Ay, Romale, Ay, Chavale.
Ay Romale, katar tumen aven
Le tserensa baxtale dromensa
Vi-man sas u bari familiya
Tai mudardya la e kali legiya.
Aven mansa sa lumiake Roma
Kai putaile le Romane droma
Ake vryama – ushti Rom akana
Ame xutasa mishto kai kerasa.
Ay, Romale, Ay Chavale,
Ay, Romale, Ay Chavale.

English translations of the lyrics by Ron Lee

I have travelled over long roads
I have met fortunate Roma
I have travelled far and wide
I have met lucky Roma
Oh, Romani adults, Oh Romani youth
Oh, Romani adults, Oh Romani youth
Oh, Roma, from wherever you have come
With your tents along lucky roads
I too once had a large family
But the black legion murdered them
Come with me, Roma of the world
To where the Romani roads have been opened
Now is the time – stand up, Roma,
We shall succeed where we make the effort.
Oh, Roma adults, Oh, Roma youth
Oh, Roma adults, Oh, Roma youth.

Here’s a website dedicated to Gelem, Gelem with many different versions of the song.