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Beethoven and more podcast #23: Gypsy improv

October 7, 2011

The Roma and Sinti Philharmonic celebrate gypsy tradition and folklore here in their purest form.

https://p.dw.com/p/12nXU
A gypsy with a tambourine
The riches of traditional Roma and Sinti folk musicImage: Fotolia/illustrez-vous

anon:
Improvised Roma and Sinti folk music
Roma and Sinti Philharmonic
Conductor: Riccardo M. Sahiti
MP3 recorded in the Beethoven Hall, Bonn, on September 24, 2011 by West German Radio, Cologne (WDR)

September 24, 2011 turned into a long night for the Roma and Sinti Philharmonic. This special project formed of professional musicians of Roma and Sinti heritage gave two concerts nearly back to back at the Beethovenfest's "Liszt Night" celebrating that composer and the contemporary expression of his Hungarian musical heritage.

After midnight and many encores and curtain calls, a clarinetist takes things into his own hands here, heading to the front of the stage with a tune on his lips. It doesn't take long for some of his fellow musicians to jump up and join him in this rollicking improvisation on gypsy folk themes - just the thing to send the crowd happily on their way.

Author: Greg Wiser
Editor: Rick Fulker