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Fanfare Ciocarlia
May. 29th, 2003 03:41 pmIt has been one bitch of a day at the software factory, bearable because I got paid, and when I crossed Chambers Street after cashing my check I saw a friend of mine, a clergyman of the Carpatho-Russian Greek Catholic Church, small arms enthusiast, demolition expert, varmint hunter and admitted former brass musician, who joined me for lunch at what is known to computer professionals as the Road Kill Cafe.
Having taken care of the most onerous business of online documentation, I shall now reward myself with a visit to the bathroom and upon my return therefrom will fire up the CD ROM drive with the latest album of the group for whom this entry is named.
They are perhaps not to everybody's taste. Their tempi are unbelievable for brass and they remind my perfect little daughter of the music from some demented circus where an evil clown frightens the children in the front row. And that sounds good to me. Here is a link to their home page on the site of Germany's Pirana Records, which has sound clips, too.
The origins of Romany gypsy brass bands are to be found in the Turkish military bands that emerged at the beginning of the nineteenth century. Then, the Ottoman occupation of the Balkans had a considerable influence that can be clearly heard in the music across Bulgaria, Macedonia, Serbia and Romania. The art of playing music has been handed down from generation to generation since time immemorial. There is no sheet music. The instruments, bearing the marks of the previous decades, have lost their shine and gained their own patina.
On them Fanfare Ciocarlia manage to set off a musical fireworks display, with an unbelievable talent for intricate rhythms and dizzy tempos. Traditional dances from Romania and rhythms from Turkey, Bulgaria and Macedonia are played on horns, trumpets, clarinets and timpani. Every weekend the instruments are hauled off to be played at weddings and other ceremonial occasions. They are often played for over thirty hours non-stop. For each different moment in life there is an appropriate piece: geamparale, sîrba, hora, and if the mood requires, a racy ruseasca at the end. Back in their village the musicians soothe their sore lips and await their next engagement.
Having taken care of the most onerous business of online documentation, I shall now reward myself with a visit to the bathroom and upon my return therefrom will fire up the CD ROM drive with the latest album of the group for whom this entry is named.
They are perhaps not to everybody's taste. Their tempi are unbelievable for brass and they remind my perfect little daughter of the music from some demented circus where an evil clown frightens the children in the front row. And that sounds good to me. Here is a link to their home page on the site of Germany's Pirana Records, which has sound clips, too.
The origins of Romany gypsy brass bands are to be found in the Turkish military bands that emerged at the beginning of the nineteenth century. Then, the Ottoman occupation of the Balkans had a considerable influence that can be clearly heard in the music across Bulgaria, Macedonia, Serbia and Romania. The art of playing music has been handed down from generation to generation since time immemorial. There is no sheet music. The instruments, bearing the marks of the previous decades, have lost their shine and gained their own patina.
On them Fanfare Ciocarlia manage to set off a musical fireworks display, with an unbelievable talent for intricate rhythms and dizzy tempos. Traditional dances from Romania and rhythms from Turkey, Bulgaria and Macedonia are played on horns, trumpets, clarinets and timpani. Every weekend the instruments are hauled off to be played at weddings and other ceremonial occasions. They are often played for over thirty hours non-stop. For each different moment in life there is an appropriate piece: geamparale, sîrba, hora, and if the mood requires, a racy ruseasca at the end. Back in their village the musicians soothe their sore lips and await their next engagement.