Roma Music
by Ursula Hemetek
Roma music is a stylistically very diverse phenomenon and eludes unequivocal categorizations. Mostly the ideas about Roma music are strongly influenced by prejudices and stereotypes of majority societies, since Roma are a minority all over the world.
Roma music has been a research focus at the department since 1989, documenting through field research which music styles the different Roma groups in Austria identify with and practice as “their” music. Three research projects between 1989 and 1995 (FWF projects) were carried out by Ursula Hemetek (1990-1992: "Traditional music of ethnic groups in Austria", 1992-1993: "Traditional Roma Music in Austria", 1993-1995: "Roma Music Part II") – giving impetus to the initiation of the minority focus at the department (link to minority focus). The first Roma association was founded in Austria in 1989, and others followed in 1991 (see Romano Centro). One of the political goals was the recognition as an Austrian ethnic group, which was finally achieved in 1993. A wide range of activities in the field of applied ethnomusicology at the beginning of the 1990s document the socio-political commitment of Roma research at the department, which from today's perspective can also be viewed critically (roma-and-travellers). Ultimately, however, these activities contributed to the political recognition of Roma in Austria (for more on Roma in Austria, see www.romane-thana.at).
Roma music is still an important topic at the department today. The Roma singer Ruža Nikolić-Lakatos in particular is one of Ursula Hemetek's longstanding research partners, personalities such as Ceija Stojka (1933-2013), Ivana Ferencova, Pera Petrović, Moša Šišić belong to the circle of many interlocutors. The sound and video recordings in the archive of the institute on this topic take several 100 hours.
The publications on Roma music that have emerged over the years are available in different formats (MCs, CDs, interviews, books, articles and theses by students) and are very numerous. Some of these see below.
Treasures of Fieldwork on Music and Minorities – A Selection of Ursula Hemetek’s Field Recordings
MGG online: Roma, Sinti, Manush, Calé
Articles see list of publications by Ursula Hemetek
Radio Stimme: Das „Fremde“ vor der Haustür